ZIP code
21202
in Baltimore, MarylandPopulation 20,683
48.29/ 100
Ranked #18,570 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #408 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 11.0%)
Ranked #145 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 7.7%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Walkability
430 intersections/sq mi
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transit access
16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,354 units
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
37.8%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
21.4%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.94 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
21.8%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
41.4%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.27 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 21202, one of several in Baltimore, Maryland ranks in the bottom 42% nationally (18,570th) and the bottom 11.0% of Maryland (408th).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: households without a vehicle lies in the top 1.7% nationally, and homeownership is in the bottom 2.1% nationally. Modeled transportation noise registers in the top 2.2% nationally, and loneliness lies in the top 2.4% nationally. On the encouraging side, walkability is in the top 0.2% nationally, transit registers in the top 0.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 0.8% nationally. Outpatient is in the top 2.2% nationally, mental-health providers registers in the top 2.5% nationally, and civic lies in the top 2.7% nationally.
Against its neighbors, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 21201, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 11.8; chronic-disease standing 75.2 — 63 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,741 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21201
Marylandshares a border
Score 50.81
Closest healthier
21218
Marylandshares a border
Score 48.42
Similar health profile
65051
Missouri95% similar profile
Score 48.28
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 19.4% | 17.7–21.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.7% | 31.3–36.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 22.1–27.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.9% | 28.4–33.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 33.0–41.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.6% | 17.9–23.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.8% | 9.2–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.6% | 66.1–71.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.4% | 73.5–79.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 81.8–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.1% | 61.5–68.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.2% | 50.4–55.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.7% | 74.8–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.5% | 22.9–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 36.9–44.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.2% | 20.3–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.7–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.5–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 28.7–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.3–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.5% | 25.5–31.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.2% | 24.6–29.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 26.8% | 24.5–29.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.8% | 20.5–25.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 13.1–16.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 41.4% | 37.6–45.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.5–17.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 37.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 49.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 21.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 38.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 9.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 33.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $59,377 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $271,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,515 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,626 ($958–$2,415) n=339 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured