ZIP code
21783
in Smithsburg, MarylandPopulation 9,910
53.15/ 100
Ranked #11,854 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #339 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #11 of 28 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ZIPs (top 39%)
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
9.0%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & 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
2.7 pCi/L
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
Overall, Smithsburg, Maryland (ZIP 21783) lands in the top 37% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,854th) and the bottom 26% of Maryland (339th).
A number of measures place this area on solid footing: grocery is in the top 18% nationally, and park land settles in the top 19% nationally. Housing-cost burden resides in the bottom 20% nationally, and modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 20% nationally. Childcare rests in the top 23% nationally, floodplain exposure stands in the bottom 24% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lies in the bottom 25% nationally. By contrast, modeled nitrate lands in the top 3.3% nationally, modeled radon sits in the top 17% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 19% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 21719, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 76%
16%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
“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
21719
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.12
Closest healthier
21773
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.10
Similar health profile
43567
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 52.48
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 | 31.0% | 28.9–33.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.3% | 35.0–39.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.9–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 21.8–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 11.1–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.6–39.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.2% | 33.8–40.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.6–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.8–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.9–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 86.9–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.3% | 62.3–68.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.9% | 59.5–64.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 72.1–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.6% | 24.0–29.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.5% | 35.5–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 16.8–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.4–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.6–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 13.0–15.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.3% | 27.8–32.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 12.2–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 20.5–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–11.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 30.5–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 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 | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 53.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $100,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $339,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,070 | $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 | 79.5 yr ± 0.71 | 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 0.71 years of 79.5, 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