Photo: Ann Longmore-Etheridge from Western Maryland, United States · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Braddock Heights is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Braddock Heights differs from Maryland on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Braddock Heights. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Braddock Heights
Cancer runs high in Braddock Heights
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.9%), vs 7.6% across Maryland. Conditions ↓
Braddock Heights keeps up with checkups
It beats Maryland on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (72.4% vs 64.4%) and cholesterol checks (91.5% vs 89.6%). Checkups ↓
Braddock Heights is an active town
Only 18.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.6% across Maryland. Habits ↓
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 Braddock Heights’ likely range.
What’s behind Braddock Heights’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Braddock Heights is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #52 of 261 in Maryland. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 94% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 70%.
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). Braddock Heights’ median household income is $124,000; among the 5,170 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($93K–$155K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Braddock Heights adults…
Braddock Heights runs below MD on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Braddock Heights adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Braddock Heights
No hospital or community health center in Braddock Heights itself. These are the nearest.
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 Braddock Heights; ≈ 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).
How Braddock Heights adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Braddock Heights does better than Maryland.
3 in 10 Braddock Heights 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.
5.1% of Braddock Heights adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Braddock Heights and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braddock Heights | A | 32.9% | 10.8% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Braddock Heights adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Braddock Heights
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Braddock Heights is better than Maryland on 19 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Braddock Heights’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Braddock Heights | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.6–15.6 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 12% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.2–15.3 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.9%29.2–36.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%33.6–38.7 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.5%39.6–45.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 29.3%26.9–31.4 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.2–10.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%10–11.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%4.7–6.6 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.5–8.1 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.4%6.8–10 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.5%16–21.3 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.9–17 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%29.5–35.9 | 37.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%4.9–7.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.9–82.6 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.4%70.1–74.6 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.5%90.3–92.6 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.8–81.4 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.3%71.4–77.2 | 68.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%71.3–80.7 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%18–22.5 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%26.5–33.1 | 34.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.5%17.8–23.4 | 24.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%5.8–8.9 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7%5.7–8.3 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.1%4–6.3 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.8%20.2–25.6 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.6–11.6 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.9%8.6–11.4 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.5–6.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.2–2.9 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Braddock Heights
Is Braddock Heights a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Braddock Heights is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #52 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Braddock Heights?
CDC estimates 32.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 36.4%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Braddock Heights?
Frederick Health Hospital in Frederick, 4.4 miles in a straight line from Braddock Heights’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Braddock Heights have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.1%), 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 Braddock Heights more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Braddock Heights.
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.