ZIP code
21619
in Chester, MarylandPopulation 6,152
55.74/ 100
Ranked #8,586 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #279 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #118 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 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.
Pharmacy access
0.61 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›Floodplain exposure
38%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.61 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.1%
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Distance to a nursing home
9.7 mi
in the top 11.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
7.1%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Tree cover
1.9%
in the bottom 27% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS27thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Chester, Maryland (ZIP 21619) sits in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,586th) and the bottom 39% of Maryland (279th).
A healthy showing across the board, and a few measures carry it: pharmacy stands in the top 3.3% nationally, grocery resides in the top 3.6% nationally, and physicians sits in the top 4.6% nationally. Civic stands in the top 9.6% nationally, dental providers resides in the top 12.1% nationally, and modeled mammography sits in the top 11.7% nationally. On the other hand, floodplain exposure stands in the top 6.9% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 10.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits in the top 11.6% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the top 17% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 21638, 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. 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.4 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $107,639 predicts 80.4 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,143 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21638
Marylandshares a border
Score 57.36
Closest healthier
21666
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.47
Similar health profile
36013
Alabama98% similar profile
Score 61.22
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 | 31.3% | 28.4–34.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.1% | 35.8–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 20.1–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.5–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.7–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.1% | 25.5–34.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 8.8–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.7–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 76.4–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.6–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.1% | 88.5–91.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.0% | 64.6–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.9% | 61.8–67.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.0–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.2% | 14.6–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.6% | 10.6–14.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 18.8–25.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 29.5–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.7% | 24.4–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.4–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.7–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.9–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.0–10.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.8–11.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.9% | 27.8–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.9% | 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+ | 23.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 47.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $107,639 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $486,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,903 | $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 ± 1.18 | 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 1.18 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