ZIP code
21520
in Accident, MarylandPopulation 1,918
51.89/ 100
Ranked #13,604 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #364 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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.
Dental provider access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›Recreation access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
12 mi
in the top 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
66%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
31.3 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
78.5%
in the bottom 14.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
1.4%
in the bottom 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.71%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
19.3 days/year
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS16thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Accident, Maryland (ZIP 21520) lands in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,604th) and the bottom 21% of Maryland (364th).
A number of measures place this area on solid footing: dental providers settles in the top 2.7% nationally, and recreation resides in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled extreme heat registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests in the top 11.1% nationally, modeled tree cover stands in the top 11.4% nationally, and civic lies in the top 13.1% nationally. Modeled mammography lands in the top 11.1% nationally. By contrast, fatal road crashes sits in the top 12.3% nationally, modeled high cholesterol is in the top 10.6% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 14.4% nationally.
A note on the terms: 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. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 21541, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
15411
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 47.77
Closest healthier
21541
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.85
Similar health profile
14895
New York96% similar profile
Score 52.28
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 | 34.4% | 31.3–37.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.7% | 38.2–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.7–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.9 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.7–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 39.4–46.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 31.9–42.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.1–14.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.7–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 76.0–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 76.3–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.3–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.0% | 64.6–73.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.0% | 60.8–67.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 73.9–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.2–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 13.0–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.6% | 23.8–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 31.0–40.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 18.9–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.3–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.2% | 28.5–35.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.7–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.0–16.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 9.9–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.0–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 27.3–36.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 52.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 19.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 43.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $59,852 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $298,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $693 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 1.04 | 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 1.04 years of 78.7, 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