ZIP code
21239
in Baltimore, MarylandPopulation 27,346
53.87/ 100
Ranked #10,857 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #326 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #129 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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
250 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Mammography
83.8%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
40.5%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Transit access
5.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
4.5%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
44%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.9%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
15.9%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
20.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
2.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 21239, one of several in Baltimore, Maryland ranks in the top 34% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,857th) and the bottom 29% of Maryland (326th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: walkability sits in the top 1.4% nationally, and modeled mammography resides in the top 1.5% nationally. Transit stands in the top 4.9% nationally, and modeled hearing disability sits in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled loneliness stands in the top 3.4% nationally, housing-cost burden sits in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled short sleep resides in the top 6.7% nationally. Households without a vehicle stands in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity sits in the top 8.3% nationally.
Against its neighbors, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 21212, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
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
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.6 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $62,650 predicts 78.2 years — 1.7 years below.
Ranked #2,064 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21212
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.37
Closest healthier
21214
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.80
Similar health profile
18458
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 55.20
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 | 27.2% | 25.2–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 40.1–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.0% | 11.9–14.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 18.7–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.6–16.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 33.9–38.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 35.2–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.5% | 9.7–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 77.0–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.1% | 81.2–84.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.1% | 88.9–91.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.8% | 69.9–75.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.2% | 53.7–58.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.8% | 80.1–86.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 23.5–28.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.9% | 39.7–46.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.0% | 19.0–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.6–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.5–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.6–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 28.4–33.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.5–17.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.9% | 27.0–32.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 20.1–25.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.5% | 18.0–23.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.5% | 18.2–22.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.5% | 37.2–43.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.9% | 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) | 44.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 36.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 17.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 37.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $62,650 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $207,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,367 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 0.69 | 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 0.69 years of 76.6, 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