ZIP code
21740
in Hagerstown, MarylandPopulation 64,792
44.86/ 100
Ranked #22,570 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #425 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 7.3%)
Ranked #23 of 28 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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
24.5%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.1 mi
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & 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
519 units
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
42.2%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
11.9%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.5 pCi/L
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS81stDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Colon-cancer screening
62.1%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 21740, one of several in Hagerstown, Maryland, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 30% nationally (22,570th) and the bottom 7.3% of Maryland (425th).
The main burdens in the data show plainly and lead the picture: modeled nitrate is in the top 1.9% nationally, distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 4.1% nationally, and modeled short sleep sits in the top 8.6% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers in the top 10.3% nationally, and homeownership lands in the bottom 12.3% nationally. More positively, subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 4.3% nationally, and physicians lies in the top 7.9% nationally. Elder services settles in the top 11.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room is in the bottom 13.1% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 17225, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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 75.8 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $62,873 predicts 78.2 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,312 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.8 ± 0.8 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.2 years — 3.3 years below them.
Ranked #2,606 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
17225
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 52.90
Closest healthier
21713
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.88
Similar health profile
17519
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 44.18
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 | 30.6% | 28.5–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.6% | 37.2–42.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 21.4–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.4% | 13.0–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.9–37.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.2% | 37.4–45.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.3% | 13.0–17.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 73.3–78.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 76.4–81.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.6–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.1% | 58.7–65.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.4% | 52.8–58.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.2% | 70.3–79.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.5% | 29.7–35.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.2% | 38.7–45.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.5% | 21.5–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.8–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.2–17.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.6–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 32.0–37.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.7–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.7–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.4% | 23.7–29.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.9% | 18.7–23.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.6% | 17.6–21.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 15.3–19.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.2% | 32.8–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 43.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 37.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $62,873 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $262,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,080 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 0.40 | 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 0.40 years of 75.8, 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