ZIP code
21252
in Towson, MarylandPopulation 4,865
39.77/ 100
Ranked #26,910 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #450 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 1.8%)
Ranked #151 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 3.9%)
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.
Cognitive disability
34%
in the top 0.04% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
14.5%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
20.7%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
33.2%
in the top 0.03% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
51.9%
in the top 0.06% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
51.5%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
1.4%
in the bottom 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Mammography
61.3%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
18.4%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 21252, one of several in Towson, Maryland sits in the bottom 16% nationally (26,910th) and the bottom 1.8% of Maryland (450th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled cognitive disability sits in the top 0.04% nationally, independent living disability registers in the top 0.2% nationally, and transportation lands in the top 0.03% nationally. Modeled loneliness resides in the top 0.06% nationally, modeled food insecurity lies in the top 0.2% nationally, and housing-cost burden settles at the national maximum. Modeled mammography stands in the bottom 1.0% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled coronary heart disease is in the bottom 0.8% nationally, and high blood pressure rests in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Modeled diabetes sits in the bottom 0.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, transportation runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. ZIP 21204, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 97%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.7%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.7%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21204
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.27
Closest healthier
21286
Marylandshares a border
Score 62.84
Similar health profile
47405
Indiana99% similar profile
Score 43.28
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 | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 0.6% | 0.6–0.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 15.6% | 13.7–17.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 1.4% | 1.2–1.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 3.9–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 34.1% | 30.6–37.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 14.5% | 12.9–16.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 31.3–39.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.0% | 0.8–1.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 28.6% | 21.5–36.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.0% | 11.1–17.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 24.0% | 20.1–28.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.5% | 68.0–74.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 59.2% | 54.0–63.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.1% | 54.3–63.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 37.1% | 34.3–40.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 61.3% | 53.5–68.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 10.4–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 36.0% | 30.8–41.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.9% | 40.1–47.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 28.8% | 24.9–33.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 35.4% | 31.9–38.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 34.0% | 29.9–38.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 43.3% | 38.7–47.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.5–3.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 20.7% | 17.9–23.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–12.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 31.2% | 27.3–35.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 51.5% | 43.3–58.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 50.3% | 41.6–57.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 32.8% | 27.6–37.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 33.2% | 28.3–37.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 51.9% | 47.9–56.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 24.7% | 20.6–28.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 100.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 0.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | — | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 20.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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