ZIP code
21607
in Barclay, MarylandPopulation 597
51.95/ 100
Ranked #13,508 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #362 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #135 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 14.1%)
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.
Crowded housing
9.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
95.5%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
9.3 mi
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Walkability
3.4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS19thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
17.9%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Barclay, Maryland (ZIP 21607) stands in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,508th) and the bottom 21% of Maryland (362nd).
Several of the strongest readings define how this area looks: households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband settles in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 11.6% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 14.4% nationally, and pfas settles in the bottom 15.0% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure rests at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. On the other hand, crowded housing lands in the top 4.7% nationally, distance to a nursing home settles in the top 12.7% nationally, and unemployment rests in the top 14.3% nationally. Recreation lands at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
For clarity, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. ZIP 21623, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21623
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.19
Closest healthier
21644
Marylandshares a border
Score 52.52
Similar health profile
47943
Indiana94% similar profile
Score 51.53
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 | 28.3% | 25.7–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.9% | 34.6–41.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.9% | 19.9–25.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 32.3–38.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.9% | 27.2–36.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.7% | 11.2–16.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.8% | 9.1–12.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 73.7–78.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 71.5–78.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 84.8–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.3% | 62.0–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.9% | 53.5–60.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 70.1–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.1–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 22.3–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.6% | 32.0–41.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 17.4–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 26.9–34.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| 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 | 24.9% | 21.6–28.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 13.1–18.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.1–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.1–15.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 30.7–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 9.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 47.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 20.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 48.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $91,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $404,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,650 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 2.75 | 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 2.75 years of 79.0, 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