ZIP code
21550
in Oakland, MarylandPopulation 13,691
53.04/ 100
Ranked #12,024 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #342 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
368 units
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.44 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.52 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Child-care access
0.52 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›High cholesterol
43.3%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
62%
in the top 13.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
22.8 days/year
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS20thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›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
Oakland, Maryland (ZIP 21550), in overall standing, comes out in the top 37% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,024th) and the bottom 25% of Maryland (342nd).
A few measures carry most of this area's good news: distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Dental providers resides in the top 6.2% nationally, subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 6.5% nationally, and pharmacy stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Outpatient resides in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Childcare stands in the top 9.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Physicians sits in the top 11.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled high cholesterol stands in the top 9.4% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 21541, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
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
21531
Marylandshares a border
Score 50.71
Closest healthier
21541
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.85
Similar health profile
43452
Ohio93% similar profile
Score 51.30
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 | 34.6% | 31.7–37.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 38.4–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 10.1–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 21.4% | 18.7–24.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.3% | 39.6–46.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.3% | 31.3–41.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 10.7–15.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.6–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.4% | 76.8–81.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 77.0–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 87.1–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.2% | 64.9–73.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 59.0–65.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 70.6–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 12.0–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 23.4–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.1% | 31.2–41.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–23.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.0–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.8% | 28.3–35.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.4–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.0–14.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 27.3–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 56.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 25.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 49.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $64,921 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $233,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $803 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 0.67 | 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 0.67 years of 78.1, 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