ZIP code
21811
in Berlin, MarylandPopulation 24,377
60.49/ 100
Ranked #4,485 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.0%)
Ranked #185 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 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.
Short sleep
28.1%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.1%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.8%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
289 units
in the top 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.33 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
0.88 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS81stDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Berlin, Maryland (ZIP 21811) sits in the top 14.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,485th) and the top 40% of Maryland (185th).
A healthy showing across the board, and a few measures carry it: modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening is in the top 3.4% nationally, and physicians lies in the top 6.9% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 8.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Pharmacy lies in the top 11.4% nationally, and recreation registers in the top 11.6% nationally. Modeled transportation is in the bottom 12.4% nationally. On the other hand, outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 4.7% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 19944, about 5.0 miles away.
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.
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 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
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
21813
Marylandshares a border
Score 58.08
Closest healthier
19944
Delawareabout 5.0 mi away
Score 63.78
Similar health profile
21601
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 59.50
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 | 34.3% | 31.5–37.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.3% | 38.1–44.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.3% | 11.2–13.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.7–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.6% | 39.1–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.7% | 27.3–36.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.5% | 6.2–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.6–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.8% | 79.3–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.5% | 80.9–85.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.0% | 90.9–93.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.8% | 71.2–78.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.7% | 65.8–71.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.7% | 74.2–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.2% | 13.7–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–12.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 21.1–27.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.1% | 24.4–32.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.9% | 25.0–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–16.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.2% | 16.7–22.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–8.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 25.9–33.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 62.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 34.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 54.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $90,082 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $388,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,377 | $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 ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 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