ZIP code
21733
in Fairplay, MarylandPopulation 1,275
57.52/ 100
Ranked #6,778 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #245 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #3 of 28 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ZIPs (top 10.8%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
37.4%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.6 pCi/L
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Fairplay, Maryland (ZIP 21733) lands in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,778th) and the bottom 47% of Maryland (245th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: fatal road crashes stands at the national minimum. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation sits in the bottom 11.1% nationally, poverty is in the bottom 11.2% nationally, and modeled food insecurity settles in the bottom 12.8% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff resides in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Crowded housing registers at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden rests in the bottom 14.5% nationally. Set against that, modeled nitrate stands in the top 1.3% nationally.
A note on the terms: nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 21781, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 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 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
21713
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.88
Closest healthier
21781
Marylandshares a border
Score 62.91
Similar health profile
44023
Ohio99% similar profile
Score 64.41
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 | 32.4% | 30.1–34.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 35.5–40.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.1% | 10.1–12.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 19.7–24.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 35.8–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.4% | 30.8–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.8% | 7.3–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.1–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 77.2–81.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 78.6–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.2% | 88.7–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 66.5–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.5% | 65.0–69.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 72.9–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.4% | 21.4–27.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.1% | 32.7–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.6% | 25.7–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 19.0–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.5–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.4–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 28.9–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.4% | 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 | 83.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.6% | 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 | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 22.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $109,896 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $291,800 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 1.25 | 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 1.25 years of 80.3, 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