On CDC estimates, Dunkirk is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Dunkirk differs from Maryland on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dunkirk. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dunkirk
Against towns with similar incomes, Dunkirk’s lead shrinks
Dunkirk is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, but 59% of the 2,802 towns with similar household incomes ($112K–$187K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Dunkirk
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 7.6% across Maryland. Conditions ↓
Dunkirk is an active town
Only 17.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.6% across Maryland. Habits ↓
Fewer Dunkirk adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Maryland. 1 in 13 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Dunkirk’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Dunkirk’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunkirk is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 94% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 69%.
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). Dunkirk’s median household income is $149,271; among the 2,802 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($112K–$187K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Dunkirk adults…
Dunkirk runs below MD on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
5.8 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
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 Dunkirk adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Care in and near Dunkirk
No hospital or community health center in Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Dunkirk adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Dunkirk adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Dunkirk does better than Maryland.
3 in 10 Dunkirk 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.
Dunkirk and the towns around it
Dunkirk has the best Health Grade of the 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dunkirk adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dunkirk
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dunkirk is better than Maryland on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Dunkirk’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dunkirk | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.8%11.3–16.7 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.3–12.8 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.6–15.4 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.4%28.7–38.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.6–11.6 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.9%32.6–39.2 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.7%35.3–41.9 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28%25.2–30.9 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.3%4.2–6.6 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.3%4.9–7.8 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%6.9–11.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.1%13.8–20.7 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.8–18.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8%31.1–40.5 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%3.9–6.9 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%77.2–82.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.7%65.5–71.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.2%89.7–92.7 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.5–80.7 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%64.6–72.9 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.2%73.9–85.3 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%16.5–21.9 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.6%26.2–35 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19%15.8–22.5 | 24.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.5%5.8–9.8 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.3%5.8–9.1 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.7–5.5 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%3.7–5.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.1%3.8–6.8 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.4%20.7–28.2 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%8.3–12.2 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%8.6–12.3 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.3–7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.5–3.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.4–6.3 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.1–3 | 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 Dunkirk
Is Dunkirk a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunkirk is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health. 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 Dunkirk?
CDC estimates 33.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 38.2%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dunkirk?
Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, 10.9 miles in a straight line from Dunkirk’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dunkirk have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–6.9%), 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 Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk.
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.