ZIP code
21801
in Salisbury, MarylandPopulation 30,088
51.63/ 100
Ranked #13,926 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #369 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 19%)
Ranked #15 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
1,134 units
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
63.5%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Dental provider access
0.93 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.87%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
41.6%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
47.9%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 21801, one of several in Salisbury, Maryland places in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,926th) and the bottom 19% of Maryland (369th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 1.1% nationally, and mental-health providers sits in the top 3.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Dental providers rests in the top 8.0% nationally, and physicians resides in the top 8.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pharmacy lands in the top 12.3% nationally, and outpatient stands in the top 12.4% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 5.1% nationally, and pfas settles in the top 6.7% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 21804, just across the boundary.
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 Salisbury, MD metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
“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 77.5 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $71,313 predicts 78.7 years — 1.2 years below.
Ranked #1,579 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
21804
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.85
Closest healthier
21822
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.69
Similar health profile
54728
Wisconsin92% similar profile
Score 53.47
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 | 28.8% | 26.5–31.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 36.2–41.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 18.6–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.2% | 36.5–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.3% | 37.0–45.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.6% | 14.0–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.6% | 8.2–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 77.5–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 79.3–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.9–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.9–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.7% | 52.6–58.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 73.1–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.5–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 26.7–33.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 33.0–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 20.5–25.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 27.2–33.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 14.0–17.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.5% | 22.4–28.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 18.1–22.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 17.3–21.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.6% | 31.7–39.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 36.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $71,313 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $327,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,114 | $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 | 77.5 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 77.5, 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