Photo: Squelle · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Maryland, Berlin is healthier than 31% of graded towns
Berlin differs from Maryland on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Berlin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Berlin
Maryland sets a high bar
Berlin is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, but only 31% of the 261 Maryland towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Berlin is short on dental care and mental health care
Berlin’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Smoking is more common in Berlin
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.6%), vs 10.9% across Maryland. Habits ↓
COPD and cancer run high in Berlin
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.1%), vs 5.9% across Maryland. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9%), vs 7.6% across Maryland. Conditions ↓
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 Berlin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Berlin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Berlin is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #181 of 261 in Maryland. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 64% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Berlin’s median household income is $81,438; among the 10,688 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Berlin
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Berlin, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Berlin; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
2.5 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Berlin adults…
Berlin runs above MD on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Berlin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Berlin adults are doing
About the same as Maryland on each measure.
1 in 3 Berlin 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.9% of Berlin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Berlin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | B | 34.3% | 12.2% | 13.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Berlin adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Berlin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Berlin is better than Maryland on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Berlin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Berlin | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.7%16–21.5 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.8–15.4 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.5 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.3%29.4–39.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.6–13.8 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.7%34.4–41.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34.4–41.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.6%26.9–32.4 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.7–7.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6–8.3 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.8%8.1–11.8 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%11.3–16 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.5%22.6–30.3 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%15.1–20.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%28–36.4 | 37.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.8–10.2 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.9–83.5 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.8%59.7–65.9 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.6–90.8 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.9–80.1 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.2%64.2–72.1 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%72.9–83.7 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.8–24.6 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%28.7–37.2 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%19.1–25.5 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.3%11.7–17 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.4%10.4–14.5 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%6.7–9.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.9%9.7–14.3 | 11.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.7%25–32.3 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.1%12–16.3 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.6–15.2 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%6.8–9.2 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Berlin
Is Berlin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Berlin is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #181 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Berlin?
CDC estimates 34.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.4% and 39.2%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Berlin?
Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Berlin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Berlin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–10.2%), 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 Berlin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Berlin.
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.