ZIP code
21718
in Burkittsville, MarylandPopulation 134
58.66/ 100
Ranked #5,855 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #225 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #206 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 33%)
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.
High cholesterol
47.3%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
14.8%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.8%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
12.0%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.4%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
10.6%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
11.5 mi
in the top 11.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Burkittsville, Maryland (ZIP 21718) sits in the top 18% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,855th) and the top 49% of Maryland (225th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled disaster risk registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally, expected annual loss lands in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and transportation resides in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 7.4% nationally, binge drinking settles in the bottom 6.8% nationally, and food insecurity stands in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability is in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Working the other way, modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 1.3% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 3.9% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 21755, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
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
21755
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.17
Closest healthier
21769
Marylandabout 0.6 mi away
Score 65.01
Similar health profile
98641
Washington99% similar profile
Score 58.93
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 | 36.6% | 33.6–39.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.9% | 40.8–46.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 14.0% | 12.7–15.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.6–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.9–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 47.3% | 44.5–50.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 30.0–38.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.9% | 6.4–9.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 4.6–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.3% | 81.1–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.3% | 81.1–85.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.9% | 91.5–94.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.4% | 69.5–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.8% | 69.5–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 69.6–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 7.7–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.6% | 19.0–26.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 28.4–34.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 14.2–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.4% | 24.8–32.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 11.9–16.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 2.9–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.3–23.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.3–10.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 4.7–8.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.5–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 3.9–5.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.1% | 25.5–32.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 3.8–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.3% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 70.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 37.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 57.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $93,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $576,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,021 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 1.14 | 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 1.14 years of 78.9, 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