ZIP code
21769
in Middletown, MarylandPopulation 11,965
65.01/ 100
Ranked #1,999 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.3%)
Ranked #86 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #125 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 41%)
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
$151,563
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.1%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
1.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.76%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
5.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
10.0%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
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 ›Mobility disability
9.3%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Middletown, Maryland (ZIP 21769), on the composite measure, lands in the top 6.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,999th) and the top 19% of Maryland (86th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: household income is in the top 3.7% nationally, modeled transportation rests in the bottom 3.2% nationally, and modeled food insecurity sits in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Poverty registers in the bottom 5.7% nationally, modeled independent living disability lands in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability resides in the bottom 5.1% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff stands in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Working the other way, modeled nitrate is in the top 6.8% 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. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 21714, 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 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
“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
21702
Marylandshares a border
Score 60.43
Closest healthier
21714
Marylandshares a border
Score 65.37
Similar health profile
21015
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 63.56
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 | 28.0% | 25.8–30.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 32.1–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.4–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 19.0–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.1% | 38.3–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.1% | 29.4–36.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.7% | 5.5–8.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.5–6.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.2–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 77.4–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.4% | 90.2–92.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 67.5–73.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.1% | 69.8–74.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.8% | 69.8–79.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–9.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 30.4–36.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.8% | 19.4–24.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.8–22.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 5.9–8.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–6.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 26.7–33.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.3% | 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+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 47.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 55.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 19.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 43.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $151,563 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $507,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,708 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 0.90 | 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 0.90 years of 81.4, 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