ZIP code
21778
in Rocky Ridge, MarylandPopulation 745
55.22/ 100
Ranked #9,189 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #298 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #244 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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.
Home broadband subscription
56.3%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.94%
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
43.4%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
10.4 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
6.7%
in the top 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS73rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Mammography
72.4%
in the bottom 27% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS27thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Rocky Ridge, Maryland (ZIP 21778) places in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,189th) and the bottom 35% of Maryland (298th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: poverty rests in the bottom 5.2% nationally, and modeled pfas resides in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Crowded housing is at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation lands in the bottom 15% nationally, expected annual loss stands in the bottom 17% nationally, and transportation noise registers in the bottom 17% nationally. On the other side, home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Fiber broadband sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lies in the top 11.8% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 9.0% 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, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 21757, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
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
21727
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.07
Closest healthier
21757
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.59
Similar health profile
16444
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 60.64
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 | 31.7% | 29.1–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 35.3–40.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.0–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 20.1–24.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.4% | 40.6–46.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.6% | 30.7–38.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.2% | 9.2–13.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 5.8–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 76.9–81.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.1–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.1% | 88.3–91.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 66.5–73.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.5% | 62.9–68.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.4% | 67.1–77.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.2% | 8.8–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.6% | 18.7–26.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 30.8–37.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 14.1–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.4–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.3% | 23.5–31.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.7–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.2–15.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.6–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.4–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 7.7–12.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.5–9.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.0–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.6–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 28.7–36.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.4–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 56.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.3% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 71.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 33.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 58.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $76,458 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $382,100 | $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 | 78.3 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 78.3, 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