ZIP code
21702
in Frederick, MarylandPopulation 49,605
60.43/ 100
Ranked #4,531 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.2%)
Ranked #186 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #185 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
770 units
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›Slow internet speeds
2.3%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
2.7%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
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 ›Park land
18.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS78thDefinition & 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
By its overall health score, ZIP 21702, one of several in Frederick, Maryland lands in the top 14.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,531st) and the top 41% of Maryland (186th).
The measures split the difference for this area: subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and physicians resides in the top 4.0% nationally. Dental providers lands in the top 4.7% nationally, and park land registers in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 5.8% nationally, and outpatient rests in the top 11.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Against that, distance to a Superfund site stands at the national minimum, slow internet speeds settles in the top 5.2% nationally, and modeled nitrate lies in the top 5.3% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 21701, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
“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
21701
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.65
Closest healthier
21703
Marylandshares a border
Score 60.73
Similar health profile
61704
Illinois98% similar profile
Score 64.73
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 | 25.4% | 23.4–27.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 32.2–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 18.2–22.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 35.7–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.5% | 32.6–40.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 7.1–10.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.1–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.4% | 72.9–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 75.8–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.6% | 87.2–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 64.5–70.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.6% | 61.0–66.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 70.5–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.8% | 20.3–25.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 34.2–40.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.4–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.3% | 22.9–27.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.9–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.7–12.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–15.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 30.1–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 21.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 43.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 38.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $106,983 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $426,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,770 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 0.58 | 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 0.58 years of 80.4, 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