ZIP code
21722
in Clear Spring, MarylandPopulation 6,721
52.46/ 100
Ranked #12,817 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #351 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #13 of 28 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ZIPs (top 46%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
17.7%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.2%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.18 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›The read
Clear Spring, Maryland (ZIP 21722), on the composite measure, lands in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,817th) and the bottom 23% of Maryland (351st).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: poverty is in the bottom 7.4% nationally, grocery rests in the top 9.0% nationally, and housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 15% nationally. Park land registers in the top 20% nationally, civic lands in the top 20% nationally, and unemployment resides in the bottom 20% nationally. Working the other way, modeled nitrate lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and radon settles in the top 6.6% nationally. Physicians stands at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 19% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 21711, 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 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, 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 73%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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 ›
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.6 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $88,232 predicts 79.6 years — 2.0 years below.
Ranked #2,681 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
17236
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 50.73
Closest healthier
21711
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.10
Similar health profile
44039
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 56.68
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 | 31.9% | 29.5–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.7% | 35.1–40.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 21.6–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–13.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 34.5–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 33.2–40.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.6–12.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.9% | 5.7–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 75.1–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 77.2–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.9% | 87.4–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 63.2–69.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 59.4–64.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.8% | 70.7–80.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 23.4–29.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.4% | 34.9–41.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 27.1–33.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 20.1–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.5–13.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.7–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.5–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.5% | 30.2–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.9% | 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 | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 58.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $88,232 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $312,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $932 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 77.6, 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