ZIP code
21875
in Delmar, MarylandPopulation 7,646
55.25/ 100
Ranked #9,148 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #296 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #5 of 24 Salisbury, MD ZIPs (top 21%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.7%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS18thDefinition & 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
On balance, and by the composite measure, Delmar, Maryland (ZIP 21875) ranks in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,148th) and the bottom 35% of Maryland (296th).
The profile opens on a set of genuinely favorable readings: distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 17% nationally, and arsenic stands in the bottom 18% nationally. Home broadband subscription settles in the top 18% nationally, park land lies in the top 19% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the bottom 20% nationally. On the other side, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 5.1% nationally, and pfas registers in the top 11.5% nationally. Recreation sits at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Childcare rests at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 21830, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
“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
19940
Delawareshares a border
Score 51.35
Closest healthier
21830
Marylandshares a border
Score 56.37
Similar health profile
61418
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 54.91
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 | 29.1% | 26.8–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.4% | 33.7–39.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.7–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.5% | 19.1–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.6% | 37.7–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 34.5–43.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.3% | 11.1–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.2% | 76.8–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.1% | 78.6–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.8–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.0% | 66.4–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.0% | 54.0–60.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 71.9–82.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.6–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.4% | 23.4–29.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 31.5–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.1% | 17.1–21.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 15.0–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.9% | 24.1–29.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 21.0–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 11.8–15.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.7–13.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.9% | 29.9–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 51.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $83,665 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $234,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,559 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 1.19 | 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 1.19 years of 77.8, 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