ZIP code
21227
in Halethorpe, MarylandPopulation 34,907
51.32/ 100
Ranked #14,391 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #375 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #137 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 12.8%)
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.
Loud transportation noise
3.5%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
624 units
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.6%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.17 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Park land
14.7%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Walkability
100 intersections/sq mi
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.2%
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Halethorpe, Maryland (ZIP 21227) ranks in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,391st) and the bottom 18% of Maryland (375th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 3.3% nationally, and transit lies in the top 3.6% nationally. Elder services lands in the top 8.8% nationally, and park land sits in the top 9.0% nationally. Walkability is in the top 9.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 2.9% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 4.5% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum. Modeled transportation noise rests in the top 7.8% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 10.7% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Close by, ZIP 21075, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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 72%
21%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 1%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
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
4 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $85,986 predicts 79.5 years — 4.0 years below.
Ranked #5,074 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 1.0 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.1 years — 1.6 years below them.
Ranked #1,497 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.9 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 71.9 — 64 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,803 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 75.5 ± 1.0 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21075
Marylandshares a border
Score 65.31
Closest healthier
21076
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.92
Similar health profile
56560
Minnesota96% similar profile
Score 53.51
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 | 25.1% | 23.4–26.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.9% | 30.8–35.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.5–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.1–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 21.0–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.8% | 33.6–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 30.9–37.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.6–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.6% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.9% | 70.7–75.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.5% | 74.2–78.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 84.3–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 63.6–70.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.5% | 55.0–60.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 72.2–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 26.1–31.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 34.3–40.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.6% | 18.8–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.9–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.7–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.7–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.3% | 26.0–30.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.5–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 24.3–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 17.7–22.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.7% | 33.5–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.7% | 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 | 14.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 46.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $85,986 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $289,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,420 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 0.53 | 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 0.53 years of 75.5, 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