ZIP code
21829
in Girdletree, MarylandPopulation 396
52.84/ 100
Ranked #12,325 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #347 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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.
Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
14.0%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
9.5%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.5 mi
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.4%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
31.1 mi
in the top 27% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS73rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
Girdletree, Maryland (ZIP 21829), by its composite score, sits in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,325th) and the bottom 24% of Maryland (347th).
Where the data is kindest to this area, a few readings lead the way: home broadband subscription resides at the national maximum. Households without a vehicle is at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden lands in the bottom 8.9% nationally, modeled colon screening stands in the top 6.2% nationally, and homeownership registers in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss settles in the bottom 11.9% nationally. Crowded housing sits at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. On the other hand, unemployment lies in the top 4.5% nationally, distance to an emergency room rests in the top 9.0% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 13.2% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 23356, about 3.5 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
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
21851
Marylandshares a border
Score 49.13
Closest healthier
23356
Virginiaabout 3.5 mi away
Score 57.60
Similar health profile
29127
South Carolina96% similar profile
Score 53.21
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 | 34.9% | 31.9–38.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.8% | 39.3–46.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 10.0–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 19.1–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.5% | 38.8–45.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.0% | 30.0–40.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.4% | 6.8–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.0–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.6–83.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 79.4–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.2% | 88.7–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.4% | 69.6–76.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.2% | 57.0–63.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 71.9–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.7–19.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 12.8–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.4% | 24.4–32.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 27.2–35.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.5% | 17.8–23.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.0% | 27.2–34.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.4–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.0–24.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.0–16.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.5–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.0–12.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 26.9–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 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+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.0% | 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 | 79.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 59.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $71,359 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $270,900 | $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 | 78.0 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 78.0, 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