ZIP code
21826
in Fruitland, MarylandPopulation 5,451
57.90/ 100
Ranked #6,474 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #239 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #2 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (top 8.4%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
81.7%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
99.1%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›PFOS in drinking water
64.4%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
1.8%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS17thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS78thDefinition & 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 ›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
Fruitland, Maryland (ZIP 21826), by its overall standing, sits in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,474th) and the bottom 48% of Maryland (239th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: home broadband subscription lies in the top 5.9% nationally, modeled hearing disability sits in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Walkability registers in the top 13.6% nationally, floodplain exposure stands in the bottom 17% nationally, and modeled mobility disability lands in the bottom 18% nationally. Set against that, modeled pfas is in the top 1.6% nationally, and lead in tap water resides in the top 13.9% nationally. PFOS in drinking water rests in the top 15% nationally, and housing-cost burden lies in the top 16% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. 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. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 21810, about 1.9 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
“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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.4 ± 2.4 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.2 years — 3.2 years above them.
Ranked #705 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, 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
21810
Marylandabout 1.9 mi away
Score 59.18
Similar health profile
06776
Connecticut98% similar profile
Score 63.23
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 | 24.9% | 22.8–27.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 31.4–36.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 18.6–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.7% | 33.9–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 35.5–44.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.8% | 11.5–16.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.7–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 74.1–78.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.6% | 78.0–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 86.5–89.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.4% | 64.7–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.2% | 56.2–62.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 73.6–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 13.0–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–14.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.2% | 22.1–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.3% | 32.4–40.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.2% | 22.3–28.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.3% | 21.2–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.1–17.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.5% | 30.7–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 99.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 13.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 33.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $64,946 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $223,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,586 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 1.21 | 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 1.21 years of 80.4, 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