ZIP code
21838
in Marion Station, MarylandPopulation 1,873
51.99/ 100
Ranked #13,467 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #361 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #12 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (top 50%)
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
78.9%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.58 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
10.3%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Mammography
83.1%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
17.3 mi
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
37.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
44.9%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
35 mi
in the top 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS77thDefinition & 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 ›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
Marion Station, Maryland (ZIP 21838), in overall standing, comes out in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,467th) and the bottom 21% of Maryland (361st).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: elder services registers in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled mammography is in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Poverty registers in the bottom 10.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Homeownership lies in the top 12.7% nationally. Pulling the other way, floodplain exposure registers in the top 1.2% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 3.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies in the top 7.9% nationally, and fatal road crashes registers in the top 8.1% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 23395, about 7.3 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 92%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 5%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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 ›
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 98.1 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 26.9 — 71 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,006 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
21817
Marylandshares a border
Score 45.72
Closest healthier
23395
Virginiaabout 7.3 mi away
Score 55.84
Similar health profile
21622
Maryland98% similar profile
Score 50.52
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 | 34.8% | 31.4–38.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.9% | 40.9–49.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 20.4% | 17.6–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.6–16.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.8% | 38.8–47.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.4% | 28.7–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 8.7–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.5–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.1% | 78.4–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 79.3–85.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.0% | 89.5–92.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 65.3–73.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 59.8–66.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.1% | 77.6–87.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 11.5–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.7% | 11.4–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.6% | 23.4–32.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.6% | 32.2–43.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.7% | 16.9–22.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 27.1–35.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 13.9–18.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.2–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 10.8–16.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.7–13.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.5–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 26.3–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.4% | 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 | 49.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 13.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 44.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $88,438 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $202,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,073 | $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 | 75.6 yr ± 1.74 | 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 1.74 years of 75.6, 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