ZIP code
21917
in Colora, MarylandPopulation 2,233
50.47/ 100
Ranked #15,597 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #388 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #283 of 361 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
26.2%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›Child-care access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.42 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
15.2 mi
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
70.9%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
62%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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 the composite measure, Colora, Maryland (ZIP 21917) stands in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,597th) and the bottom 15% of Maryland (388th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: childcare lies in the top 3.5% nationally, and pharmacy is in the top 7.5% nationally. Homeownership registers in the top 10.1% nationally, and modeled transportation noise lies in the bottom 11.8% nationally. Crowded housing is at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum, and modeled nitrate lies in the top 1.9% nationally. Fiber broadband is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to an emergency room registers in the top 10.9% nationally, and housing-cost burden lies in the top 17% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. ZIP 21911, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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
21904
Marylandshares a border
Score 49.24
Closest healthier
21911
Marylandshares a border
Score 51.90
Similar health profile
46788
Indiana96% similar profile
Score 51.14
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 | 29.8% | 27.2–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.0% | 35.0–41.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 21.6–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 36.6–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 35.5–45.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.0% | 10.7–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.0–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 75.2–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 73.9–79.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.2–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.0% | 57.8–66.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.3% | 60.1–66.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.9% | 64.3–76.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 12.9–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.1–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 23.3–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 33.3–42.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 16.4–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.0–20.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.6–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.7–34.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 18.3–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 9.8–14.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 7.9–12.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.6–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 28.3–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 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+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.0% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 73.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $96,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $409,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 76.5, 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