ZIP code
21793
in Walkersville, MarylandPopulation 10,719
60.52/ 100
Ranked #4,465 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.0%)
Ranked #184 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #184 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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
12.4%
in the top 2.8% 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 ›Poverty rate
2.8%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$121,971
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST63rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
7.0%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Walkersville, Maryland (ZIP 21793) sits in the top 14.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,465th) and the top 40% of Maryland (184th).
Where this area does well, the measures make it plain: poverty is in the bottom 9.2% nationally, household income rests in the top 9.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Modeled tooth loss registers in the bottom 8.3% nationally, and mobility disability lands in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled independent living disability lies in the bottom 11.2% nationally, and cognitive disability settles in the bottom 14.4% nationally. Against that, modeled nitrate stands in the top 2.8% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 14.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 21701, 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 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 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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
21701
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.65
Closest healthier
21774
Marylandabout 0.9 mi away
Score 67.25
Similar health profile
46037
Indiana99% similar profile
Score 68.38
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 | 27.7% | 25.5–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.2% | 32.6–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 19.5–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.1% | 37.4–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 31.6–39.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.0% | 5.8–8.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 6.2–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 74.1–79.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 76.5–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.7–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 66.7–73.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.1% | 65.7–70.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 69.7–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.4% | 17.9–22.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.6% | 32.4–39.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.2% | 21.7–26.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.7–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 28.4–35.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 51.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 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 | $121,971 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $459,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,537 | $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 | 79.6 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 79.6, 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