ZIP code
21555
in Oldtown, MarylandPopulation 1,470
43.41/ 100
Ranked #23,999 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #436 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 4.9%)
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.
Tree cover
85.3%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
71.7%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
34 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
10.6%
in the bottom 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
5.4%
in the top 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
22.1%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.7 pCi/L
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
60.8%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS17thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$53,266
in the bottom 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Oldtown, Maryland (ZIP 21555) ranks in the bottom 25% nationally (23,999th) and the bottom 4.9% of Maryland (436th).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled tree cover lands in the top 2.9% nationally, and civic registers in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled pfas sits in the bottom 10.5% nationally. Against that, home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Fiber broadband is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Fatal road crashes stands in the top 10.3% nationally, crowded housing settles in the top 12.4% nationally, and modeled short sleep lies in the top 12.7% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site resides in the bottom 14.5% nationally, and poverty lands in the top 14.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to 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 72%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 72.3; chronic-disease standing 19.4 — 53 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,278 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
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
25444
West Virginiaabout 1.2 mi away
Score 48.03
Similar health profile
45772
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 38.67
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 | 35.4% | 32.6–38.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.9% | 38.9–45.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.6–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Depression among adults | 26.1% | 23.3–29.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 37.7–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.5% | 32.1–41.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.4% | 15.4–21.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.0–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 76.4–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.6% | 77.8–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 86.5–89.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.8% | 56.5–65.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.5% | 53.3–59.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.1% | 68.0–79.7 |
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 | 18.8% | 16.0–21.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.0% | 29.0–37.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.0% | 36.8–45.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.3% | 20.5–26.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.6–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 32.3–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.2–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 20.9–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 13.5–19.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 11.8–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–14.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 29.9–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 71.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.4% | 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 | 66.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $53,266 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $197,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $790 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 79.6, 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