ZIP code
21230
in Baltimore, MarylandPopulation 32,977
54.32/ 100
Ranked #10,283 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #310 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #125 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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
10 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
21.9%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.3%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
160 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.7%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.3%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.6%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
15.7%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
38.6%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
27.7%
in the bottom 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 21230, one of several in Baltimore, Maryland lands in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,283rd) and the bottom 32% of Maryland (310th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: transit lies in the top 1.2% nationally, and modeled hearing disability lands in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Walkability sits in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol is in the bottom 4.2% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 4.6% nationally, and high blood pressure resides in the bottom 5.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled binge drinking registers in the top 1.9% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 6.6% nationally, and households without a vehicle stands in the top 6.8% nationally. Modeled loneliness lies in the top 7.0% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 21231, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 92%
21%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
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
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 74.9 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $91,842 predicts 79.7 years — 4.9 years below.
Ranked #5,494 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 74.9 ± 1.2 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.5 years — 1.6 years below them.
Ranked #1,495 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 9.3 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 91.8 (top 10%) — 83 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,371 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 37.5 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 74.9 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #1,788 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
21201
Marylandshares a border
Score 50.81
Closest healthier
21231
Marylandshares a border
Score 57.84
Similar health profile
54481
Wisconsin97% similar profile
Score 53.21
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 | 18.3% | 16.6–20.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.7% | 25.4–30.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.4% | 23.7–29.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.7% | 28.1–33.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.3% | 27.7–35.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.4–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 10.3–14.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 8.2–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 67.8% | 65.3–70.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.9% | 71.9–77.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.7–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 64.4–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.2% | 59.5–64.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.7% | 74.8–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.9% | 19.2–24.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.1% | 17.9–22.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 31.4–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 15.5–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 16.0–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.5% | 24.0–29.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.6–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 16.0–19.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.6% | 34.7–42.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 50.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 46.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 11.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 33.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $91,842 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $330,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,717 | $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 | 74.9 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 74.9, 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