Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Jefferson is healthier than 23%
Jefferson differs from Maryland on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jefferson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jefferson
Against towns with similar incomes, Jefferson’s lead shrinks
Jefferson is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, but 23% of the 2,689 towns with similar household incomes ($113K–$189K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and depression run high in Jefferson
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 7.6% across Maryland. 1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22.6%), vs 19.4% across Maryland. Conditions ↓
Fewer Jefferson adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Maryland. 1 in 10 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 Jefferson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Jefferson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #106 of 261 in Maryland. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 85% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 55%.
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). Jefferson’s median household income is $150,854; among the 2,689 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($113K–$189K), it’s healthier than 23%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most Maryland towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Jefferson is healthier than 60% of graded towns, against 78% nationally.
Out of every 100 Jefferson adults…
Jefferson runs below MD on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Jefferson residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.6% of Jefferson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Care in and near Jefferson
No hospital or community health center in Jefferson 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 Jefferson; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jefferson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Jefferson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Jefferson runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | A− | 35.5% | 11% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jefferson adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jefferson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson is better than Maryland on 7 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Jefferson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jefferson | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.5%13.1–18.3 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.6%10–13.4 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.1–18 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%31.6–39.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11%9.7–12.6 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.6%32.9–38.2 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.9%38.2–43.6 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.9–30.6 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10%8.9–11.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.2–6.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%5.1–7.5 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.9%6.5–9.5 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.5%8.3–13.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.5%17.4–24.2 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13.4–17.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%31.1–37.7 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.1–8.3 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%76.5–81.3 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%67.7–72.6 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.1–91.3 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.5–79.5 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%66.6–73.1 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%67.2–77.6 | 80.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%20–25 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%27.9–35.3 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%18.8–25.1 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.9%7.7–12.5 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9%7.2–11 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%4.9–7.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.7–6.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.6%5.7–9.6 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.4%21.4–27.9 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9.1–12.7 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.9%10.2–14 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.4–7 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.1–4.3 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.3–7.5 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.5–3.6 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Jefferson
Is Jefferson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #106 of 261 in Maryland. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jefferson?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 39.2%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jefferson?
Frederick Health Hospital in Frederick, 7.9 miles in a straight line from Jefferson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jefferson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–8.3%), 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson.
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.