ZIP code
21545
in Mount Savage, MarylandPopulation 1,694
42.57/ 100
Ranked #24,752 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #443 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 3.3%)
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.
Tree cover
74.9%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
58.1%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.58 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Floodplain exposure
0.90%
in the bottom 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 ›Coronary heart disease
8.7%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
62.1%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mammography
72.2%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS26thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$60,264
in the bottom 29% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS29thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
Mount Savage, Maryland (ZIP 21545), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 23% nationally (24,752nd) and the bottom 3.3% of Maryland (443rd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: modeled tree cover rests in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Civic lands in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure settles in the bottom 11.8% nationally, and lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas rests in the top 8.7% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep lands in the top 10.9% nationally. Physicians rests at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
Defined simply, for reference, 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. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 21502, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
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
21502
Marylandshares a border
Score 44.17
Closest healthier
21532
Marylandshares a border
Score 49.99
Similar health profile
15455
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 45.43
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 | 34.9% | 32.1–37.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 38.6–45.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.1% | 9.7–12.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.8% | 23.8–30.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.1% | 37.0–43.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.7% | 33.1–42.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.4% | 13.8–19.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.1–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.7–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 77.3–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.4–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.1% | 58.0–66.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.6% | 51.3–57.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.2% | 65.5–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.2–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.0% | 17.3–22.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.0% | 30.2–38.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.5% | 37.3–46.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 21.3–27.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.4–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.5% | 32.9–40.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–19.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.8–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.8% | 15.0–21.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.0–19.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 10.8–15.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 30.2–38.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.4–10.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.4% | 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 | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 43.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $60,264 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $130,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $905 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.98 | 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 0.98 years of 77.4, 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