ZIP code
21236
in Nottingham, MarylandPopulation 39,514
61.14/ 100
Ranked #4,039 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.6%)
Ranked #169 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #86 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & 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
282 units
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
4.6%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.9 pCi/L
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS17thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS78thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Nottingham, Maryland (ZIP 21236) lands in the top 12.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,039th) and the top 37% of Maryland (169th).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: walkability registers in the top 8.1% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 10.0% nationally, and energy burden is in the bottom 12.6% nationally. Grocery stands in the top 15% nationally, modeled tooth loss settles in the bottom 13.0% nationally, and transit lies in the top 16% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a Superfund site resides in the bottom 15% nationally, and crowded housing lands in the top 16% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 21057, 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 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
“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
One of our published findings lists 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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.0 ± 1.0 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.2 years — 2.8 years above them.
Ranked #952 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
21057
Marylandshares a border
Score 66.20
Closest healthier
21087
Marylandshares a border
Score 62.30
Similar health profile
21701
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 63.65
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 | 26.1% | 24.3–28.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.6% | 31.5–35.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.4–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 19.4–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 35.1–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.7% | 28.6–35.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.0% | 6.6–9.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.9% | 73.7–78.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 77.1–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.1% | 87.9–90.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.6% | 66.5–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.7% | 62.3–67.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 75.1–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.4% | 22.1–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 32.4–38.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.5% | 15.0–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.6–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.8–13.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.2% | 22.2–26.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 22.3–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.3% | 31.0–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 40.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.9% | 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) | 30.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 16.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 43.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 17.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 38.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $95,149 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $327,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,650 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 0.49 | 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 0.49 years of 80.0, 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