ZIP code
21530
in Flintstone, MarylandPopulation 1,404
43.04/ 100
Ranked #24,344 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #440 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 4.0%)
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.
Unemployment rate
17%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
78.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
11.0%
in the bottom 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.8 pCi/L
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
78.4%
in the bottom 14.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
28.5 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
60.5%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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 ›Coronary heart disease
8.8%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS76thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Flintstone, Maryland (ZIP 21530) lands in the bottom 24% nationally (24,344th) and the bottom 4.0% of Maryland (440th).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled tree cover lands in the top 5.5% nationally, and pfas registers in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Crowded housing sits at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Against that, unemployment rests in the top 2.9% nationally, and modeled short sleep is in the top 9.2% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled radon settles in the top 14.4% nationally, home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 14.2% nationally, and fatal road crashes resides in the top 14.8% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 15% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 15522, 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.
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 72%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
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 ›
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
15535
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 49.15
Similar health profile
17747
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 41.59
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 | 35.7% | 32.6–38.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.3% | 38.8–45.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.1–12.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.0% | 23.0–29.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 37.6–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 32.2–41.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.3% | 15.5–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.4–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.4–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 78.2–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.8–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.5% | 56.1–64.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.1% | 51.8–58.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 68.2–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 11.9–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.0% | 15.6–22.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.1% | 28.5–37.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.0% | 37.7–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.4% | 19.9–27.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.9% | 31.6–40.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.1–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 14.9–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 3.9–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.4–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 13.1–19.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 11.7–17.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 9.8–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 29.6–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.1% | 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+) | 21.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 17.0% | 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 | 78.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.7% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 57.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 27.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 56.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $63,542 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $202,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $828 | $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 | 79.9 yr ± 1.29 | 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 1.29 years of 79.9, 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