ZIP code
21636
in Goldsboro, MarylandPopulation 1,097
39.28/ 100
Ranked #27,217 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #452 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 1.4%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
63.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Mammography
68%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS8thDefinition & 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 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
43%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
13.5 mi
in the top 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 14.5% 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 ›Self-care disability
5.8%
in the top 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
9.4%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
18.4%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
20.6%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Goldsboro, Maryland (ZIP 21636) ranks in the bottom 15% nationally (27,217th) and the bottom 1.4% of Maryland (452nd).
The measures split the difference for this area: households without a vehicle registers at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Physicians sits in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the bottom 14.5% nationally. Against that, fatal road crashes settles in the top 1.9% nationally, modeled mammography lies in the bottom 7.6% nationally, and modeled obesity resides in the top 9.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands in the top 14.3% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol registers in the top 11.1% nationally.
In plainer terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 19934, 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 83%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
“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 83.4; chronic-disease standing 11.8 — 72 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #974 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
19934
Delawareshares a border
Score 52.41
Closest healthier
19943
Delawareshares a border
Score 49.88
Similar health profile
40858
Kentucky99% similar profile
Score 29.20
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 | 34.6% | 31.5–37.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.7% | 39.9–47.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 21.4–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.9% | 39.1–46.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 37.1–48.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.6% | 17.2–24.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.2% | 11.1–15.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 74.0–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.2–80.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.7–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.5–69.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.9% | 48.1–55.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.0% | 59.7–75.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 11.8–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.9% | 17.8–23.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.8% | 27.4–36.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.6% | 35.1–46.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.3% | 23.0–29.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.7% | 16.6–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.2–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.1% | 32.9–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.9% | 16.4–21.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.3–28.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.2% | 18.8–26.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 17.6–24.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 13.9–19.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.3% | 29.5–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 21.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 8.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 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 | 95.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 68.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 44.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $73,426 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $320,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,655 | $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 | 75.6 yr ± 0.99 | 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 0.99 years of 75.6, 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