ZIP code
21620
in Chestertown, MarylandPopulation 13,810
56.06/ 100
Ranked #8,206 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #272 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
382 units
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST74thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
Chestertown, Maryland (ZIP 21620) ranks in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,206th) and the bottom 41% of Maryland (272nd).
The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled colon screening is in the top 5.3% nationally. Modeled mammography registers in the top 5.5% nationally, physicians lies in the top 9.2% nationally, and elder services is in the top 9.6% nationally. Grocery registers in the top 10.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers registers in the top 13.5% nationally.
For context, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 21617, 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 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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
21617
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.05
Closest healthier
21658
Marylandabout 4.2 mi away
Score 62.76
Similar health profile
23430
Virginia98% similar profile
Score 55.63
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 | 32.2% | 29.6–34.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 38.6–44.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.8–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 19.9–25.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.8–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.8–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.5% | 28.7–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 9.3–12.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.4–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 78.2–81.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 77.5–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.0–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.8% | 70.4–76.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.8% | 59.9–65.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.4% | 76.5–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.2–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.8% | 20.7–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.3% | 30.0–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 16.6–21.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.8–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.6% | 26.5–32.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 13.0–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| 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 | 22.3% | 19.6–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 28.7–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 51.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 25.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $80,530 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $347,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,249 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 0.89 | 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 0.89 years of 80.0, 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