ZIP code
21781
in Saint James, MarylandPopulation 25
62.91/ 100
Ranked #3,026 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.5%)
Ranked #126 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #1 of 28 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ZIPs (top 3.6%)
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.
High cholesterol
21.3%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
19%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
1.9%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
1.2%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
2.7%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
4.8%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
5.1%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Saint James, Maryland (ZIP 21781) lands in the top 9.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,026th) and the top 28% of Maryland (126th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled high cholesterol settles in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and high blood pressure lies in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and stroke lands in the bottom 1.0% nationally. Modeled hearing disability registers in the bottom 0.6% nationally, mobility disability sits in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and diabetes rests in the bottom 1.2% nationally. On the other hand, modeled nitrate is at the national maximum, unemployment stands at the national maximum, and poverty settles at the national maximum.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, unemployment runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 21773, about 8.1 miles away.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.6%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
in the top 1.0%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.5%
21%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
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
21733
Marylandshares a border
Score 57.52
Closest healthier
21773
Marylandabout 8.1 mi away
Score 63.10
Similar health profile
61012
Illinois98% similar profile
Score 53.75
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 | 11.2% | 10.2–12.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 19.0% | 17.2–21.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 2.6% | 2.3–2.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 1.9% | 1.6–2.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 2.7% | 2.1–3.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.9% | 16.7–21.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 21.3% | 19.5–23.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.2% | 23.9–30.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.2% | 1.0–1.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.0% | 4.9–7.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 5.4–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 51.9% | 48.9–54.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.3% | 66.8–74.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.0% | 75.0–82.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.4% | 67.0–73.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.6% | 57.9–63.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.3% | 75.9–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 16.1–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.6% | 6.4–11.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.0% | 16.2–24.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.2% | 37.8–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.5% | 9.3–14.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.3–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–9.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 10.9–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.2% | 17.8–25.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.3–3.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.2–6.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 4.8% | 3.9–5.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.5% | 1.3–1.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.2–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 31.8% | 27.0–36.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 9.5–17.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.1–9.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 8.8–14.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.2–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 42.9% | 38.4–47.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 4.7–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 100.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 100.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 100.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | — | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | — | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | — | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | — | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | — | 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 | — | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 21.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | — | $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 ± 1.32 | 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 1.32 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