ZIP code
21622
in Church Creek, MarylandPopulation 420
50.52/ 100
Ranked #15,520 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #386 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
88.2%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
6.2%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
23.6%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
18.2 mi
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
72.3%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.4%
in the top 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
80.4%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST60thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.4%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.9%
in the bottom 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Church Creek, Maryland (ZIP 21622), on the composite measure, lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,520th) and the bottom 16% of Maryland (386th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled pfas lies in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise stands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography is in the top 9.1% nationally, and colon screening rests in the top 9.2% nationally. Working the other way, floodplain exposure sits in the top 0.7% nationally, and households without a vehicle registers in the top 3.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 7.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 7.6% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 10.1% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, 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. 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 neighbor overall sits at ZIP 21634, 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 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
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
21613
Marylandshares a border
Score 47.72
Closest healthier
21634
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.64
Similar health profile
29438
South Carolina98% similar profile
Score 52.19
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 | 38.6% | 35.2–42.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.3% | 40.4–48.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.4% | 11.4–13.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.9–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.2% | 38.3–46.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 31.8–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.4–14.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.1–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.3% | 79.5–84.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.5% | 79.6–85.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.7% | 89.4–91.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.4% | 68.4–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 59.2–65.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.4% | 74.7–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.5–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.1–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.6% | 22.8–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.7% | 30.1–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 18.5–23.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.5% | 28.7–36.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 18.8–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.2–14.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.6–12.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.9% | 24.7–33.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 23.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 72.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 61.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 28.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 51.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $296,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $3,501 | $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 | 79.4 yr ± 1.77 | 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 1.77 years of 79.4, 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