ZIP code
21835
in Linkwood, MarylandPopulation 312
53.41/ 100
Ranked #11,486 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #333 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Mammography
82.4%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
74.5%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
15.5 mi
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
11.1%
in the bottom 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.4%
in the top 13.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$47,083
in the bottom 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS11thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.8%
in the bottom 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS21stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›The read
Linkwood, Maryland (ZIP 21835), by its composite score, sits in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,486th) and the bottom 27% of Maryland (333rd).
The clearest bright points in the data come first here: modeled mammography registers in the top 3.3% nationally, and pfas settles in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 14.3% nationally. Crowded housing lies at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 18% nationally. By contrast, home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 9.4% nationally, distance to an emergency room is in the top 10.3% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 13.4% nationally. Household income stands in the bottom 11.1% nationally, and unemployment registers in the top 17% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 21631, just across the boundary.
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 77%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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
21613
Marylandshares a border
Score 47.72
Closest healthier
21631
Marylandshares a border
Score 53.47
Similar health profile
12969
New York99% similar profile
Score 56.73
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 | 35.0% | 31.7–38.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.6% | 37.9–45.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 6.9–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.4–23.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.2% | 35.5–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.2% | 32.6–44.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.9% | 10.0–14.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.3–10.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.5–83.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.2–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.0–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.2% | 65.0–73.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 57.6–64.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.4% | 77.2–87.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.9% | 12.4–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 10.9–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.0% | 21.6–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.3% | 31.4–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 16.9–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.6–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 12.8–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.2–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 26.2–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 13.5–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.4–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 10.2–16.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.4–13.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.8–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 25.9–35.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.6–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 43.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.7% | 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 | 80.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 49.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 60.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $47,083 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $51,100 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 79.8, 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