ZIP code
21660
in Ridgely, MarylandPopulation 4,132
49.85/ 100
Ranked #16,449 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #395 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 13.8%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.25 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.51 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
9.5%
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Ridgely, Maryland (ZIP 21660) lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,449th) and the bottom 13.8% of Maryland (395th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: mental-health providers registers in the top 2.8% nationally, and pharmacy resides in the top 4.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the bottom 12.3% nationally, and fatal road crashes sits in the bottom 19% nationally. Set against that, unemployment lands in the top 10.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room stands in the top 17% nationally. Recreation rests at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians registers at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
Put simply, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. On the overall standing, ZIP 21617, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 80%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
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 ›
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
21657
Marylandshares a border
Score 57.33
Similar health profile
43464
Ohio95% similar profile
Score 48.70
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 | 31.4% | 28.3–34.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.1% | 35.5–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 21.0–27.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 35.9–43.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 34.5–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.1–13.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 8.0–11.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.0–78.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.5% | 75.2–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.2–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 63.1–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.0% | 56.4–63.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.8% | 67.6–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.5–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 13.8–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 22.6–30.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.6% | 34.2–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 17.6–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 27.3–35.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.5–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.2–19.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.8–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.9% | 30.2–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 46.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 35.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $80,469 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $359,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $945 | $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 | 73.7 yr ± 1.50 | 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 1.50 years of 73.7, 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