Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Germantown is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Germantown differs from Maryland on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Germantown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Germantown
What’s behind Germantown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Germantown is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #56 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 fair or poor health, still better than 74%.
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). Germantown’s median household income is $117,546; among the 6,093 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($88K–$147K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Germantown adults…
Germantown runs below MD on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Germantown 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 Germantown
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Germantown, 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 Germantown; ≈ 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.
21 miles of trails across 29 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Germantown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Germantown adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Germantown does better than Maryland.
1 in 3 Germantown 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.
10.8% of Germantown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Germantown and the towns around it
Germantown’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown | A | 27.5% | 10.5% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Clarksburg | A+ | 22.9% | 9.2% | 6.6% | CDC place |
| Darnestown | A+ | 22.6% | 9.3% | 5.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Germantown adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Germantown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Germantown is better than Maryland on 13 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Germantown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Germantown | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.6%15.1–18.2 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 12% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.3–14.9 | 15% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.5%24.3–30.5 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9.4–11.5 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%27.8–32.2 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%36.1–41 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.2%16.7–19.8 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.4–2.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.6%6.3–9.1 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.8%18.7–23 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.9–15.4 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.4%33.4–39.4 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%9.1–11.5 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.4%72.9–77.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.5%63.1–67.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%88–90.4 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.2%69.4–74.7 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%61.8–68 | 68.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.2%74.9–83.2 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.5%15.7–19.5 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%32.2–38.3 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%22.8–27.8 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.9%14.2–17.7 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.9–8.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 11.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.3%20.3–24.4 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%10.4–12.6 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 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 Germantown
Is Germantown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Germantown is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #56 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Germantown?
CDC estimates 27.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.3% and 30.5%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Germantown?
Holy Cross Germantown Hospital in Germantown, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Germantown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Germantown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–11.5%), 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 Germantown 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 Germantown.
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.