20872 leans Democratic by roughly 18 points: about 59% of voters vote Democratic and 41% Republican.
About 75% of adults in 20872 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 20872, ~44% vote Democratic, ~31% Republican, and ~25% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 20872 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 20872 leans more Democratic than 18 of 42 neighbors.
20872 runs about 10 points more Republican than Maryland as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 20872. The east side runs the most Democratic (D+28) and the north side runs the most Republican (R+8), a spread of about 36 points.
Why 20872 leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per zip code to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for 20872, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Areas with high college attainment vote Democratic. About 44% of adults in 20872 hold a bachelor's degree, about 15 points above the U.S. average of 28%.
Park access and Democratic lean
Places with heavy park coverage tend to lean Democratic; 20872, MD sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 20872 looks the way it does
Homeowners vote more often than renters. About 90% of households in 20872 own their home, about 13 points above the Maryland average of 77%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Maryland State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.