ZIP code
21723
in Cooksville, MarylandPopulation 669
67.10/ 100
Ranked #1,263 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.0%)
Ranked #56 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 12.3%)
Ranked #23 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 14.7%)
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.
Median household income
$241,250
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
37.6%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
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 ›Hearing disability
4.6%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.1%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.2%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.4%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.9%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Cooksville, Maryland (ZIP 21723) places in the top 4.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,263rd) and the top 12.3% of Maryland (56th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: household income resides in the top 0.5% nationally, and childcare is in the top 1.9% nationally. Poverty lands at the national minimum, and home broadband subscription stands at the national maximum. Modeled hearing disability registers in the bottom 4.0% nationally, independent living disability settles in the bottom 3.1% nationally, and coronary heart disease sits in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lies in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled nitrate rests in the top 1.3% nationally, and loud transportation noise resides in the top 6.5% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 21738, 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 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 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
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
21738
Marylandshares a border
Score 70.28
Closest healthier
21794
Marylandshares a border
Score 70.43
Similar health profile
60043
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 75.29
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 | 24.3% | 21.8–27.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 29.6–35.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.4–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 17.1–22.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 36.1–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.2% | 25.3–33.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.4% | 2.1–2.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.0–10.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.2% | 3.9–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.7% | 71.6–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 77.0–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.9% | 89.0–92.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.9% | 58.8–67.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.9% | 71.4–76.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.0% | 75.7–85.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 12.4–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.3% | 6.3–11.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.3% | 13.5–20.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 31.7–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.5% | 10.4–15.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.0% | 8.5–11.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.2–12.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.9% | 17.8–24.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.2–6.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–11.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.0–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.6–3.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 17.8–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 6.8–11.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.2–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.2–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.1–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 27.0–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 3.9–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 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+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 82.3% | 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) | 30.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.3% | 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 | 44.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 59.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 10.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 48.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $241,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $1,005,500 | $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 ± 1.01 | 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 1.01 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