ZIP code
21821
in Deal Island, MarylandPopulation 797
43.82/ 100
Ranked #23,590 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #433 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 5.5%)
Ranked #21 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
83.4%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Coronary heart disease
11.9%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
47.9%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
51%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.01%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.5%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
18.5 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
71.7%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Deal Island, Maryland (ZIP 21821) sits in the bottom 26% nationally (23,590th) and the bottom 5.5% of Maryland (433rd).
The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: floodplain exposure is in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled coronary heart disease lies in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol registers in the top 0.9% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure is in the top 2.6% nationally, stroke lies in the top 4.7% nationally, and hearing disability registers in the top 6.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is in the top 6.7% nationally, and home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Better still, modeled transportation noise registers in the bottom 5.5% nationally, and colon screening is in the top 4.8% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 21871, about 0.7 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. 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
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
21853
Marylandshares a border
Score 43.39
Closest healthier
21871
Marylandabout 0.7 mi away
Score 45.36
Similar health profile
77364
Texas96% similar profile
Score 44.01
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 | 41.6% | 37.8–45.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 51.0% | 46.8–55.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 13.4% | 12.1–14.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.0–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 47.9% | 43.6–52.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.9% | 28.9–41.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.2–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.0% | 7.4–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.4% | 80.7–85.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.1% | 80.3–85.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.4% | 90.1–92.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.0% | 69.7–78.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.0% | 57.6–64.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 73.6–85.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.4% | 10.2–14.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 14.6–19.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.7% | 27.8–37.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 31.0–42.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.8% | 21.2–28.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.8% | 33.1–42.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 21.6% | 18.5–24.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 20.6–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.2–17.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.6–14.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.2–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 71.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.2% | 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 | 7.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 30.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 46.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $60,341 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $188,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,615 | $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 | 74.3 yr ± 2.00 | 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 2.00 years of 74.3, 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