ZIP code
21502
in Cumberland, MarylandPopulation 41,015
44.17/ 100
Ranked #23,248 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #431 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
530 units
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Short sleep
42.6%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.36 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Tree cover
66.3%
in the top 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.5 pCi/L
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS79thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
4.6%
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS77thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Cumberland, Maryland (ZIP 21502) lands in the bottom 27% nationally (23,248th) and the bottom 5.9% of Maryland (431st).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 4.2% nationally, and physicians rests in the top 5.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers resides in the top 6.9% nationally, and pharmacy settles in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled tree cover is in the top 11.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Dental providers lands in the top 13.1% nationally. Set against that, distance to a Superfund site lies at the national minimum, and modeled short sleep stands in the top 7.5% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. On the overall standing, ZIP 15522, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
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
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 75.8 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $60,725 predicts 78.1 years — 2.3 years below.
Ranked #3,155 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 75.8 ± 0.9 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.8 years — 3.0 years below them.
Ranked #2,410 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
15522
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 51.01
Closest healthier
21532
Marylandshares a border
Score 49.99
Similar health profile
18517
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 41.36
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 | 33.1% | 30.6–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.7% | 38.7–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.4–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 25.0% | 22.2–28.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 35.8–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 33.3–42.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.6% | 13.1–18.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.8–11.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 74.3–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 77.3–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.1% | 85.6–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.8% | 58.7–66.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.9% | 52.7–59.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.8% | 68.7–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.2–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 17.1–21.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.3% | 30.0–36.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.6% | 38.3–47.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 21.8–26.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.7% | 16.9–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.6–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.8–18.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.9% | 32.8–39.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.9% | 22.9–29.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 17.4–22.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–17.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.9% | 31.0–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 52.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $60,725 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $153,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $773 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 0.44 | 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 0.44 years of 75.8, 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