ZIP code
21853
in Princess Anne, MarylandPopulation 10,537
43.39/ 100
Ranked #24,021 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #437 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 4.6%)
Ranked #22 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (bottom 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.
Short sleep
45.6%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
16%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
15.1%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
22.1%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
28.4%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
327 units
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
11.9%
in the top 11.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.3%
in the top 13.5% 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 ›Poverty rate
20.7%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Princess Anne, Maryland (ZIP 21853) sits in the bottom 25% nationally (24,021st) and the bottom 4.6% of Maryland (437th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 7.5% nationally, grocery stands in the top 7.6% nationally, and mental-health providers resides in the top 11.1% nationally. Against that, modeled short sleep sits in the top 2.4% nationally, utility shutoff stands in the top 5.6% nationally, and transportation resides in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity sits in the top 6.4% nationally, and food insecurity stands in the top 7.4% nationally. Floodplain exposure resides in the top 10.5% nationally, and modeled loneliness sits in the top 11.2% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 21821, 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. 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 86%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.8 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $69,697 predicts 78.7 years — 3.9 years below.
Ranked #4,997 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 85.4; chronic-disease standing 31.0 — 54 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,150 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
21821
Marylandshares a border
Score 43.82
Closest healthier
21822
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.69
Similar health profile
70053
Louisiana98% similar profile
Score 37.73
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 | 28.7% | 26.0–31.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.6% | 38.8–46.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.1% | 19.0–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.1% | 32.5–39.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.0% | 33.7–46.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.3% | 15.3–21.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 8.7–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.4% | 72.0–76.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.6–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.8% | 82.5–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.4% | 62.8–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.5% | 46.9–54.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 72.4–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 10.9–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.4–19.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.9% | 28.4–37.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 45.6% | 39.9–51.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.4% | 22.2–28.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.3% | 17.9–22.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.5% | 16.0–21.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.8% | 31.4–40.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.7% | 24.8–32.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 28.4% | 24.4–32.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 27.8% | 23.9–31.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.1% | 19.0–25.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.1% | 13.1–17.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.3% | 32.3–42.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 39.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 33.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $69,697 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $208,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,042 | $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 | 74.8 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 74.8, 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