ZIP code
21231
in Baltimore, MarylandPopulation 14,969
57.84/ 100
Ranked #6,540 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #241 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #106 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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
420 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
9.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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
21.7%
in the top 2.1% 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
3.8%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
29.6%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.8%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
34.2%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
21.6%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
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 ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 21231, one of several in Baltimore, Maryland comes out in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,540th) and the bottom 47% of Maryland (241st).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: walkability stands in the top 0.2% nationally, transit lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol resides in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and coronary heart disease rests in the bottom 2.7% nationally. By contrast, modeled binge drinking lies in the top 2.1% nationally, and homeownership sits in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 4.0% nationally, and modeled tree cover registers at the national minimum. PFAS in drinking water stands at the national maximum.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 21211, about 1.6 miles away.
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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
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
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 75.3 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $85,254 predicts 79.4 years — 4.2 years below.
Ranked #5,147 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 22.0; chronic-disease standing 94.3 (top 10%) — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,597 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
21202
Marylandshares a border
Score 48.29
Closest healthier
21211
Marylandabout 1.6 mi away
Score 62.18
Similar health profile
02163
Massachusetts98% similar profile
Score 64.77
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 | 16.9% | 15.4–18.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 26.3% | 24.2–28.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Depression among adults | 26.2% | 23.5–29.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.6% | 27.1–32.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.2% | 27.5–34.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.8–15.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 66.6% | 64.0–69.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.1% | 72.1–77.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.2–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 65.0–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.7% | 57.9–63.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.0% | 76.1–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.7% | 19.0–24.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.7% | 16.6–21.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 32.2–39.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.6–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.6% | 22.1–27.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 19.8–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 14.0–17.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.8% | 34.2–41.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 64.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 21.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 34.2% | 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 | 9.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 50.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 9.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 32.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $85,254 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $350,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,796 | $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 | 75.3 yr ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 years of 75.3, 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