ZIP code
21648
in Madison, MarylandPopulation 172
55.67/ 100
Ranked #8,664 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #281 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
5.1%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.4%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
17.2 mi
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS9thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
24.4%
in the top 11.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.8%
in the bottom 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
0.1 days/year
in the bottom 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS22ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Madison, Maryland (ZIP 21648) stands in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,664th) and the bottom 39% of Maryland (281st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled pfas sits in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Home broadband subscription stands at the national maximum, and modeled colon screening sits in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled mammography resides in the top 4.4% nationally. Unemployment stands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle sits at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss resides in the bottom 9.3% nationally. On the other side, distance to an emergency room stands in the top 8.0% nationally. Fiber broadband sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
For clarity, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 21673, about 6.4 miles away, 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.
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 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
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
21673
Marylandabout 6.4 mi away
Score 56.37
Similar health profile
54821
Wisconsin96% similar profile
Score 56.53
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 | 35.6% | 32.1–39.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.4% | 37.5–45.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.1–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 17.8–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.1–43.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 32.1–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.6–13.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.5–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.8% | 78.0–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 78.9–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.9% | 89.3–92.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.4% | 70.5–77.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.1% | 59.0–65.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.8% | 76.2–86.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.2–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 11.3–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 20.0–28.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 30.4–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 15.9–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 25.2–33.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.5–17.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.5% | 18.4–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.2–14.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 7.8–12.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.1–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.8% | 24.8–33.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.0% | 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 | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.4% | 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 | 6.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 90.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 35.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 61.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $195,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 80.1 yr ± 2.23 | 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 2.23 years of 80.1, 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