ZIP code
21782
in Sharpsburg, MarylandPopulation 3,704
55.30/ 100
Ranked #9,094 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #294 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #7 of 28 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ZIPs (top 25%)
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
12.3%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3 pCi/L
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
6.7%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
9.1%
in the top 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Sharpsburg, Maryland (ZIP 21782) ranks in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,094th) and the bottom 36% of Maryland (294th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: poverty rests in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and park land stands in the top 11.4% nationally. Modeled tooth loss lies in the bottom 7.0% nationally. Crowded housing lands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle sits in the bottom 17% nationally, pharmacy is in the top 18% nationally, and modeled transportation settles in the bottom 19% nationally. Set against that, modeled nitrate resides in the top 2.9% nationally, modeled radon registers in the top 10.6% nationally, and unemployment rests in the top 11.7% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Close by, ZIP 21713, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
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
21756
Marylandshares a border
Score 57.39
Similar health profile
45068
Ohio99% similar profile
Score 57.75
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 | 31.5% | 29.1–33.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.2% | 34.5–39.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 23.4% | 21.0–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.2% | 34.6–39.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 32.4–39.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.7% | 5.6–7.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.4–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 75.2–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.7–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.4–91.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 63.0–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.1% | 62.6–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 71.5–80.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.6–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 21.9–28.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.3% | 34.9–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.5% | 25.6–31.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.7–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–11.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.5–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.9% | 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 | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 58.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 22.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 48.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $94,130 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $311,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,147 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 1.11 | 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 1.11 years of 78.1, 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