Photo: Matthew Binebrink · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Baltimore as a whole is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns
Baltimore differs from Maryland on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Baltimore. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Baltimore
Mental distress runs high in Baltimore
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.6%), vs 15% across Maryland. Depression is above the state too: 23.7%, vs 19.4% across Maryland. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Baltimore
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.7%), vs 15.4% across Maryland. Utility shut-off threats (15.3% vs 8.4%) and no reliable transportation (13.6% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 26.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Baltimore
53.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Maryland. Among those 65 and older, 17% have lost all their teeth (Maryland 9.9%). Checkups ↓
Baltimore has 13 hospitals within its borders
13 hospitals and 5 community health centers are inside Baltimore. The Johns Hopkins Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of two five-star hospitals in town. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Maryland figure falls outside Baltimore’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Baltimore’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Baltimore is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #234 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 54% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 20%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Baltimore’s median household income is $62,177; among the 9,461 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most Maryland towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Baltimore is healthier than 10% of graded towns, against 29% nationally.
Where Baltimore compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 569,997 residents, Baltimore is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
How Baltimore adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Baltimore runs above Maryland.
2 in 5 Baltimore adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Care in and near Baltimore
13 hospitals and 5 community health centers in Baltimore.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Baltimore; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.2% of Baltimore adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Keeping up with care
Share of Baltimore adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Out of every 100 Baltimore adults…
Baltimore runs below MD on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
85 miles of trails across 240 parks and preserves
Baltimore and the towns around it
Baltimore’s Health Grade ranks 10th of 11 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | C | 38.1% | 14.4% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Rosedale | C+ | 36.3% | 14.3% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Pikesville | A− | 31% | 12.6% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Towson | A− | 30.4% | 9.4% | 8.9% | CDC place |
| Dundalk | C− | 37.8% | 14.6% | 17.6% | CDC place |
| Woodlawn | C+ | 37.2% | 15.7% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Brooklyn Park | B− | 37.3% | 11.7% | 14.6% | CDC place |
| Arbutus | A− | 31% | 10.3% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Baltimore adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Baltimore
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Baltimore is better than Maryland on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Baltimore’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Baltimore | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.5%21.6–25.5 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.7–15.3 | 12% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.9–20.4 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%34.1–42.1 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%13–15.8 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%36.9–42.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%32.6–38 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25%23–27.1 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.5–14 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.8–6.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.9–8.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.2–4.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17%14.4–19.6 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.5–17.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.5%24.9–30.3 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.9–18.3 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%37.3–44.6 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%77.2–82.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%51.1–56.5 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.4–88.2 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.8–78 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.8%65.3–72 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.2%76.6–85.1 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%21.2–26.3 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.8%37.1–44.8 | 34.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%25.7–31.9 | 24.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.7%24.4–29.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.3%20.2–24.6 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.3%13.7–16.9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.6%12.3–15 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.2%24.1–28.4 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%30.9–36.4 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%15.3–18.3 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.9–17.9 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.6–7.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.3–11 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5.1–5.9 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Maryland figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Baltimore
Is Baltimore a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Baltimore is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #234 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Baltimore?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 42.1%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Baltimore?
The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Baltimore’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Baltimore have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–11.6%), against 8.7% across Maryland.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Baltimore more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Baltimore.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maryland figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.