Holly Hill · Photo: John O. Brostrup · Public domainWhere Friendship residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Friendship, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Friendship. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Friendship
Cancer and heart disease run high in Friendship
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.9%), vs 7.6% across Maryland. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (6.9%), vs 5.8% across Maryland. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Maryland 17%), and cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Friendship doesn’t win on
16.7% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across Maryland, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Friendship 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 Friendship’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Friendship adults…
Friendship runs below MD on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Friendship is an older town: 35% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Friendship as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Friendship
No hospital or community health center in Friendship 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 Friendship; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Friendship adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Friendship adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Friendship does better than Maryland.
3 in 10 Friendship 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.
4.7% of Friendship adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Friendship and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owings | A | 34.7% | 9.9% | 10.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Friendship adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Friendship
Why doesn’t Friendship have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Friendship.
What hospital is closest to Friendship?
Calverthealth Medical Center in Prince Frederick, 12.2 miles in a straight line from Friendship’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Friendship?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Opc Shady Side V1 in Shady Side, 7.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Friendship.
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. 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.