ZIP code
21209
in Baltimore, MarylandPopulation 30,126
64.40/ 100
Ranked #2,249 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.1%)
Ranked #98 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #48 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 31%)
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.
Transit access
5.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
81.5%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.6%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Walkability
110 intersections/sq mi
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
250 units
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
10.7%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
Under 0.1 mi
in the bottom 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.9%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
7.2%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST31stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 21209, one of several in Baltimore, Maryland sits in the top 7.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,249th) and the top 21% of Maryland (98th).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: transit is in the top 3.7% nationally, mental-health providers lies in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled mammography registers in the top 5.2% nationally. Modeled colon screening is in the top 5.7% nationally, walkability lies in the top 9.1% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 9.9% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability is in the bottom 8.4% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lies in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the bottom 8.3% nationally, and hearing disability is in the bottom 11.0% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 21210, 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 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.7 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $91,437 predicts 79.7 years — 3.0 years above.
Ranked #446 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 82.7 ± 1.1 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.2 years — 5.5 years above them.
Ranked #76 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21204
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.27
Closest healthier
21210
Marylandshares a border
Score 71.24
Similar health profile
06422
Connecticut99% similar profile
Score 65.28
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 | 25.8% | 24.2–27.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.5% | 31.6–35.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.3–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.9–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.2–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 20.7–24.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.6–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.2% | 35.2–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.2% | 27.5–33.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.2% | 6.3–8.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 75.2–78.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 78.3–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.3% | 89.3–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.6% | 71.4–75.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.5% | 66.5–70.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.5% | 78.4–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 14.2–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 17.8–21.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 30.7–35.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.2% | 13.0–15.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.6–15.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.6–11.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.8–11.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.9% | 22.1–25.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.7–11.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 19.5–23.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 30.9–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 60.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 57.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 41.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 35.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $91,437 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $440,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,655 | $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 at birth | 82.7 yr ± 0.56 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.5 yr (75.7–82.7) n=451 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.56 years of 82.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
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