ZIP code
21824
in Ewell, MarylandPopulation 264
43.12/ 100
Ranked #24,264 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #438 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 4.4%)
Ranked #23 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (bottom 4.2%)
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
99.7%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
60.2%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
24.6 mi
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
23.7 mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
6.5%
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
22.4 mi
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
9.2 mi
in the top 12.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›The read
Ewell, Maryland (ZIP 21824), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 24% nationally (24,264th) and the bottom 4.4% of Maryland (438th).
The profile opens on the burdens that define it most: floodplain exposure lies in the top 0.2% nationally, home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and distance to an emergency room settles in the top 3.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers in the top 6.9% nationally. More positively, modeled transportation noise stands at the national minimum, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands in the top 3.4% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the bottom 6.1% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 7.1% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss lies in the bottom 7.4% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 23440, about 7.8 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 62%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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
23440
Virginiaabout 7.8 mi away
Score 46.76
Closest healthier
21817
Marylandabout 7.8 mi away
Score 45.72
Similar health profile
75476
Texas97% similar profile
Score 43.49
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 | 36.6% | 33.1–40.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.3% | 39.4–47.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.2% | 8.0–10.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.6% | 8.7–12.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.7–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–16.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 39.1–47.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.4% | 28.4–40.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.1–16.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.9% | 7.3–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.3–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 77.4–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 87.4–90.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 61.5–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.8% | 53.2–60.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 69.0–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 11.4–16.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 13.8–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.4% | 26.3–37.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 31.8–43.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 18.9–27.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–19.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.3–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.2% | 30.3–41.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.3–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.5% | 15.4–22.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 3.8–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.0–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 12.0–19.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 10.3–16.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 9.7–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.3–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 27.8–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.2–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 33.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 1.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 60.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 6.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.6% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 56.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 29.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 45.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $90,288 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $108,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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