Photo: Adavidb at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Maryland, Laurel is healthier than 42% of graded towns
Laurel differs from Maryland on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Laurel. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Laurel
Making ends meet is harder in Laurel
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.8%), vs 15.4% across Maryland. Housing insecurity (19.1% vs 13.5%) and utility shut-off threats (11.4% vs 8.4%) are higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Maryland sets a high bar
Laurel is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, but only 42% of the 261 Maryland towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Laurel is behind on routine checkups
It trails Maryland on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (75.6% vs 79.2%), dentist visits (60.1% vs 64.4%) and cholesterol checks (88.2% vs 89.6%). Checkups ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Laurel’s lead shrinks
Laurel is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, but 50% of the 8,518 towns with similar household incomes ($75K–$126K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Laurel
Laurel runs below Maryland on six chronic conditions, most of all cancer (4.8% vs 7.6%), heart disease (4.1% vs 5.8%) and COPD (4.7% vs 5.9%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Maryland 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Laurel’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Laurel’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Laurel is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #152 of 261 in Maryland. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 86% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Laurel’s median household income is $100,504; among the 8,518 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$126K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.7% of Laurel adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Keeping up with care
Share of Laurel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Out of every 100 Laurel adults…
Laurel runs below MD on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Laurel 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 Laurel
No hospital or community health center in Laurel 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 Laurel; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
5.8 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
How Laurel adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Laurel does better than Maryland.
4 in 10 Laurel 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.
Laurel and the towns around it
Laurel’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel | B+ | 40.1% | 11.8% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Maryland City | B+ | 39.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Konterra | B+ | 36% | 16.2% | 7.6% | CDC place |
| South Laurel | B | 41.1% | 12.5% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| North Laurel | A | 33% | 10% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| West Laurel | A− | 34.5% | 11.8% | 8.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Laurel adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Laurel
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Laurel is better than Maryland on 8 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Laurel’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Laurel | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%16.7–20.3 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.3–12.7 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.5–16.5 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%36.1–43.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.6–13 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%31.1–36 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.2%30.6–35.6 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.8%19–22.6 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.6 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.8–4.6 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10%8.4–11.9 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.5%21.9–27 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.8–15.6 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.1%39.8–46.4 | 37.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.1%10.6–13.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.6%72.9–78 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.1%57.5–62.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.2%86.9–89.5 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.9%68.2–73.3 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%63.1–69.3 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.1%77.1–84.8 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.1%14.2–18.1 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%33.2–40.1 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.3%23.5–29.3 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.8%18.6–23.3 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.1%17.1–21.4 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.4%10.1–12.9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%8.9–11.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.7%12.9–16.7 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.8%22.4–27.1 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.4%10.2–12.6 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.8%11.5–14.1 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 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 Laurel
Is Laurel a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Laurel is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #152 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Laurel?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 43.8%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Laurel?
Adventist Healthcare White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Laurel’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Laurel have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.6–13.6%), 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 Laurel 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 Laurel.
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.