ZIP code
21561
in Swanton, MarylandPopulation 2,412
52.09/ 100
Ranked #13,340 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #358 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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.
High cholesterol
45.2%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
74%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
44.3%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
20.7 days/year
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS18thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
9.0%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
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 ›Hearing disability
9.4%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.13%
in the top 44% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS56thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Swanton, Maryland (ZIP 21561) ranks in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,340th) and the bottom 22% of Maryland (358th).
A number of measures place this area on solid footing: modeled tree cover lands in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening is in the top 8.9% nationally, recreation settles in the top 14.6% nationally, and unemployment resides in the bottom 15% nationally. Modeled humid heat registers in the bottom 18% nationally. By contrast, modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 4.0% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled high blood pressure lies in the top 14.6% nationally. Physicians lands at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
To spell things out, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Close by, ZIP 21541, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 65%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
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 ›
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 80.7; chronic-disease standing 16.6 — 64 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,445 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
21520
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.89
Closest healthier
21541
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.85
Similar health profile
14549
New York98% similar profile
Score 53.49
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 | 36.6% | 33.4–39.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.3% | 40.7–47.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 10.9–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.1–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.2% | 41.5–48.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 31.6–42.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.0–16.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.3–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.8% | 78.3–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.8–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.2–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 68.4–76.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.3% | 60.0–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 71.1–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 11.4–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.1–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 23.5–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.1% | 30.2–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 18.7–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 28.7–36.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.6% | 17.5–24.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.5–15.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.5–13.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.2–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 26.1–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.7% | 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) | 18.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 65.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 35.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 57.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $73,858 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $328,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 1.16 | 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 1.16 years of 77.5, 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