ZIP code
21797
in Woodbine, MarylandPopulation 8,643
64.74/ 100
Ranked #2,105 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.6%)
Ranked #94 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #47 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 30%)
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.
Median household income
$189,241
in the top 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
44.1%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
83.1%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.6%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.6%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.4%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.4%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
10.2%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Woodbine, Maryland (ZIP 21797) sits in the top 6.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,105th) and the top 21% of Maryland (94th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: household income stands in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled mammography is in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled transportation rests in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff sits in the bottom 5.7% nationally, food insecurity registers in the bottom 5.8% nationally, and housing insecurity lands in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Poverty resides in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and modeled independent living disability lies in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability settles in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Working the other way, modeled nitrate stands in the top 1.1% 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. ZIP 20833, 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 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 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.2 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $189,241 predicts 82.6 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,219 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20833
Marylandshares a border
Score 70.29
Closest healthier
20882
Marylandshares a border
Score 69.98
Similar health profile
21131
Maryland100% similar profile
Score 68.67
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 | 29.0% | 26.8–31.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 33.3–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.5–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 19.1–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.7% | 39.0–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.6% | 29.1–36.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.4% | 5.4–7.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.2–6.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 75.2–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.4–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.5% | 90.5–92.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.8% | 67.7–73.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.9% | 70.7–75.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.1% | 79.3–86.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.1% | 7.7–10.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.9% | 15.7–20.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.3% | 30.1–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.4% | 12.2–14.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.2% | 20.9–25.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.3–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.8% | 16.7–21.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–8.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–8.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.3% | 26.3–32.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 51.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.7% | 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 | 7.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 57.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 45.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $189,241 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $735,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,535 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 80.2, 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