ZIP code
21851
in Pocomoke City, MarylandPopulation 7,297
49.13/ 100
Ranked #17,482 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #402 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 12.3%)
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.
Elder-services access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
9.2%
in the top 11.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
12.7 mi
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
44.1%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.7%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS19thDefinition & 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 ›Diabetes
15.9%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Stroke
4.8%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$53,162
in the bottom 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
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
29.8 mi
in the top 28% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS72ndDefinition & 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
In overall standing, Pocomoke City, Maryland (ZIP 21851) comes out in the bottom 45% nationally (17,482nd) and the bottom 12.3% of Maryland (402nd).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: elder services sits in the top 11.0% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 11.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Park land lands in the top 15% nationally, and pharmacy is in the top 16% nationally. By contrast, unemployment resides in the top 11.6% nationally, and floodplain exposure rests in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room sits in the top 16% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 21829, 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 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
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 97.1 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 24.5 — 73 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #911 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
21829
Marylandshares a border
Score 52.84
Closest healthier
21838
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.99
Similar health profile
23890
Virginia93% similar profile
Score 46.14
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 | 33.1% | 30.6–35.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.1% | 41.1–47.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.2–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 36.8–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.4% | 33.9–43.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.2% | 11.9–16.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.0% | 7.7–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.9% | 77.7–81.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.3% | 79.8–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.0% | 87.7–90.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.7% | 66.0–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.9% | 54.8–60.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.2% | 73.8–83.5 |
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 | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.2% | 27.7–34.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.5% | 31.5–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.2% | 20.8–25.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.8–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.6–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.2% | 30.0–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–19.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.9–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 17.2–22.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.7–20.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.1% | 30.3–38.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 52.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 20.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 44.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $53,162 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $206,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $848 | $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 ± 1.70 | 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 1.70 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