Photo: Blacktupelo · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Maryland, College Park is healthier than 43% of graded towns
College Park differs from Maryland on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for College Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in College Park
Making ends meet is harder in College Park
1 in 6 adults lack reliable transportation (16%), about twice the Maryland rate. Food insecurity (27.3% vs 15.4%) and utility shut-off threats (11.8% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 20% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in College Park
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (21.8%), vs 15% across Maryland. Loneliness is above the state too: 42.5%, vs 34.3% across Maryland. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in College Park
College Park runs below Maryland on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (2.7% vs 7.6%), arthritis (11.9% vs 25.8%) and stroke (1.6% vs 3.4%). A young population is part of it: only 6% of residents are 65 or older (Maryland 17%). Conditions ↓
Maryland sets a high bar
College Park is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns, but only 43% of the 261 Maryland towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
College Park is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, College Park is healthier than 69%. Against the 10,499 towns with similar household incomes ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 86%. Health Grade ↓
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 College Park’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind College Park’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, College Park is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns, #148 of 261 in Maryland. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). College Park’s median household income is $69,721; among the 10,499 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 86%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20% of College Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
How College Park adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, College Park runs above Maryland.
2 in 5 College Park 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.
Out of every 100 College Park adults…
College Park runs below MD on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of College Park residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near College Park
1 community health center in College Park, 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 College Park; ≈ 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.
4.3 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of College Park adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
College Park and the towns around it
College Park’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Park | B+ | 32.7% | 6.3% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| Adelphi | C | 41.2% | 14.2% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Beltsville | B | 36.8% | 13.9% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Greenbelt | B | 40.3% | 12.3% | 11% | CDC place |
| Riverdale Park | C | 42% | 13.8% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Berwyn Heights | A− | 34.6% | 10.5% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| University Park | A | 33.1% | 10.5% | 7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of College Park adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for College Park
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, College Park is better than Maryland on 8 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside College Park’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | College Park | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%17.7–21.7 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%10.1–12.6 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19.7–23.8 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.7%29.2–36.1 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 21.3%19.5–23.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 24.4%22.5–26.3 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 11.9%10.8–13 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–12.8 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 2.7%2.5–3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.6%1.5–1.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.9%11.7–16.2 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%22–27.4 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%14.2–18.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%37.1–43.6 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%10.9–14.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.8%64.4–70.8 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51%48.3–53.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 72.3%69.5–74.9 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 50.1%47.9–52.2 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%61.1–67.6 | 68.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%71.6–80.9 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%20.2–24.9 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 42.5%38.8–46.3 | 34.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%22.4–28.3 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.3%24.3–30.7 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.3%16.1–20.7 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16%14.1–17.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20%17.4–22.9 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%28.2–33.9 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.8%6.9–8.6 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.7%18.6–22.9 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.8–12.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.1 | 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 College Park
Is College Park a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, College Park is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #148 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in College Park?
CDC estimates 32.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 36.1%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to College Park?
Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Ctr in Lanham, 4.0 miles in a straight line from College Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in College Park have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–14.7%), 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 College Park more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in College Park.
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.