Photo: Aude · CC BY-SA 2.5Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Hancock is healthier than 79%
Hancock trails Maryland on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hancock. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hancock
COPD, heart disease and depression run high in Hancock
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 5.9% across Maryland. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 5.8% across Maryland. Depression is also above the state: 25.6%, vs 19.4% across Maryland. In all, Hancock runs above Maryland on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Hancock
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (18%), vs 10.9% across Maryland. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Hancock
56.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Maryland. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Maryland 9.9%). Checkups ↓
Hancock is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Hancock is healthier than 17%. Against the 1,231 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$44K), it’s healthier than 79%. 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 Hancock’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Hancock’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hancock is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 29% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Hancock’s median household income is $34,886; among the 1,231 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$44K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Hancock adults…
Hancock runs above MD on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Hancock adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Care in and near Hancock
1 community health center in Hancock, 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 Hancock; ≈ 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 Hancock adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Hancock runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 Hancock 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.
14.9% of Hancock adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Hancock and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock | C− | 39.8% | 14.2% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hancock adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hancock
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hancock is better than Maryland on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Hancock’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hancock | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%19.3–25.5 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.2–18.1 | 12% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.5–20.5 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%36–43.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.6–15.9 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%37.9–43.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%34.9–40.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34%31.6–36.5 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9–11 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.5–9.4 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9–12.1 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%15–20.6 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%14.9–20.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.9%27.9–35.8 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.7–15.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%36.9–43.8 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%6.9–10.9 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%76.6–81.6 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.6%53.8–59.4 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.7–88.6 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.4–79.9 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66%62.7–69.2 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.5%69.4–79.2 | 80.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.8–28.4 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%31.2–38.3 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%21–26.9 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.9%13.1–19 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.8%10.8–14.8 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.8%7.6–10.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.9%12.2–17.8 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.5%31.7–39.1 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.4–18.9 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.5–18.7 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Hancock
Is Hancock a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hancock is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hancock?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 43.8%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hancock?
Valley Health War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs, 11.2 miles in a straight line from Hancock’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hancock have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–10.9%), 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 Hancock more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hancock.
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.