ZIP code
21914
in Charlestown, MarylandPopulation 810
57.26/ 100
Ranked #7,009 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #253 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #200 of 361 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Civic-institution access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.1%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
17.7 mi
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.2%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
2.7%
in the top 11.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
20.1%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.27%
in the top 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS68thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Charlestown, Maryland (ZIP 21914) ranks in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,009th) and the bottom 45% of Maryland (253rd).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: civic sits in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled disaster risk rests in the bottom 7.3% nationally. Households without a vehicle is at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation stands in the bottom 9.9% nationally, food insecurity settles in the bottom 11.0% nationally, and expected annual loss lies in the bottom 11.0% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff resides in the bottom 12.2% nationally. On the other hand, modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 7.0% nationally, distance to an emergency room registers in the top 7.5% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 11.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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 nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 21078, about 4.5 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
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
21901
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.25
Closest healthier
21078
Marylandabout 4.5 mi away
Score 59.84
Similar health profile
15015
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 74.52
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 | 28.6% | 25.9–31.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.2% | 34.0–40.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.3% | 19.6–25.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.6% | 36.5–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.6% | 32.8–42.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.9% | 7.3–10.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.5–7.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.9–81.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.9–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 87.9–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 63.4–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.3% | 67.5–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.6% | 69.6–80.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.0–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 9.6–14.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.0% | 19.4–26.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.1% | 31.0–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.6% | 13.2–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–14.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.6% | 23.0–30.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.5% | 9.7–13.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.6% | 16.6–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 6.8–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.1–8.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.4–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 26.5–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.1–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.6% | 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+) | 25.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.4% | 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 | 79.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 27.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 46.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $66,806 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $288,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,522 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 1.00 | 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 1.00 years of 76.2, 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