ZIP code
21822
in Eden, MarylandPopulation 2,926
51.69/ 100
Ranked #13,855 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #368 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #14 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (bottom 42%)
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.
Unemployment rate
13.1%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
40.8%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›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
Overall, Eden, Maryland (ZIP 21822) lands in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,855th) and the bottom 20% of Maryland (368th).
A handful of measures stand out most sharply across the profile here: park land lands in the top 13.2% nationally, and lithium in drinking water sits in the bottom 14.5% nationally. Modeled transportation noise is in the bottom 15% nationally, and colon screening settles in the top 14.2% nationally. Poverty resides in the bottom 21% nationally. On the other side, unemployment registers in the top 5.2% nationally, modeled high cholesterol rests in the top 13.1% nationally, and lead in tap water stands in the top 17% nationally. PFOS in drinking water lies in the top 18% nationally. Physicians lands at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 21804, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 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 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Disability
healthier than 30%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 93.9 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 26.6 — 67 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,237 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21801
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.63
Closest healthier
21804
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.85
Similar health profile
15555
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 49.42
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 | 33.3% | 31.2–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.6% | 40.1–45.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.8–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.2–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.4–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.4% | 19.4–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 13.6–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 40.0–45.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 35.4–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 11.0–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.9% | 79.2–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 80.2–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.8–90.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.2% | 68.5–74.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.2% | 56.8–61.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 74.4–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.9% | 26.1–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 33.4–40.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 19.8–23.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 15.1–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.5–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.7–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.7% | 28.1–33.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.5% | 15.0–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 21.1–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 29.1–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 13.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 44.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 35.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $84,479 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $277,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,614 | $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 | 78.3 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 78.3, 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