ZIP code
21228
in Catonsville, MarylandPopulation 50,492
61.34/ 100
Ranked #3,918 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.3%)
Ranked #162 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #85 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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.
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 ›Transit access
4.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Park land
19.9%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
38.3 per million
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.12 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS80thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS78thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Catonsville, Maryland (ZIP 21228) ranks in the top 12.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,918th) and the top 35% of Maryland (162nd).
Taken together, the profile's clearest strengths surface right away: transit resides in the top 6.9% nationally, and park land lands in the top 7.0% nationally. Mental-health providers registers in the top 8.9% nationally, and walkability sits in the top 10.7% nationally. Physicians rests in the top 11.0% nationally, subsidized affordable housing is in the top 11.7% nationally, and pharmacy stands in the top 12.6% nationally. Modeled binge drinking settles in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Against that, PFAS in drinking water lies at the national maximum, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the top 7.8% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 21043, 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 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
“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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 78.4 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $112,656 predicts 80.6 years — 2.2 years below.
Ranked #2,975 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 38.3 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 78.4 ± 0.8 years.
Ranked #1,713 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
21043
Marylandshares a border
Score 69.70
Closest healthier
21075
Marylandshares a border
Score 65.31
Similar health profile
03249
New Hampshire99% similar profile
Score 61.44
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 | 28.1% | 26.2–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.3% | 34.1–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.3–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.0% | 18.1–22.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.7–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 36.6–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.9% | 27.8–34.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.2% | 7.7–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 6.4–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 76.7–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 78.5–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.5–90.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 67.6–73.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.0% | 62.5–67.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.1% | 75.9–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.1% | 22.7–27.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.5% | 31.6–37.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.5–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.8% | 23.5–28.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–14.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.3% | 21.7–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.8–15.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 30.4–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 52.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 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) | 28.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 22.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $112,656 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $404,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,701 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.43 | 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 0.43 years of 78.4, 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