Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, La Plata is healthier than 34%
La Plata beats Maryland on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Plata. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Plata
What’s behind La Plata’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Plata is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #141 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 82% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 34%).
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). La Plata’s median household income is $121,208; among the 5,583 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($91K–$152K), it’s healthier than 34%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most Maryland towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state La Plata is healthier than 46% of graded towns, against 70% nationally.
Out of every 100 La Plata adults…
La Plata runs below MD on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near La Plata
1 hospital and 1 community health center in La Plata, 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 La Plata; ≈ 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.
3.4 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of La Plata adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How La Plata adults are doing
About the same as Maryland on each measure.
1 in 3 La Plata 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.
9.9% of La Plata adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
La Plata and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Plata | B+ | 38.2% | 11.9% | 11.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Plata adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Plata
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Plata is better than Maryland on 2 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside La Plata’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Plata | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.3%14.4–18.5 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.5–13.3 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.3–17.9 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.2%33.9–42.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.8%35.9–41.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%34.4–40.3 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5%24.3–29 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.4–11.7 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.4–8.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–6 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.2%6.7–9.8 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.6–13.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.9%19.1–25.2 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.4–16.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%33.1–40.5 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.8–8.2 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%77.4–82.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66%63.3–68.6 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.9%88.5–91.1 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.6–79.3 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.6%66–72.9 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%75.5–84.5 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.8–21.8 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%30.4–38.3 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.6–28 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.4%11.4–15.7 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.3–13.8 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.7–9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%8.3–11.7 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.1%23.3–29.3 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12%10.6–13.6 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.8–13.7 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.1–7.8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 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 La Plata
Is La Plata a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Plata is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #141 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 La Plata?
CDC estimates 38.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 42.8%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Plata?
University of MD Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata, 1.0 miles in a straight line from La Plata’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Plata have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–8.2%), 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 La Plata more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Plata.
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.