Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainWithin Maryland, Leisure World is healthier than 29% of graded towns
Leisure World differs from Maryland on 29 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Leisure World. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Leisure World
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Leisure World
1 in 5 adults have had cancer (18.6%), more than twice the Maryland rate. 1 in 7 adults have heart disease (13.8%), more than twice the Maryland rate. Stroke is also above the state: 7.2%, vs 3.4% across Maryland. In all, Leisure World runs above Maryland on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 77% of residents are 65 or older (Maryland 17%), and cancer, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Leisure World is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Leisure World is healthier than 56%. Against the 9,417 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 80%. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Leisure World, and more people treating it
56.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Maryland 36.8%), but 90% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Maryland sets a high bar
Leisure World is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, but only 29% of the 261 Maryland towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Leisure World keeps up with checkups
It beats Maryland on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (89.8% vs 79.2%) and dentist visits (67.9% vs 64.4%). Checkups ↓
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 Leisure World’s likely range.
What’s behind Leisure World’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Leisure World is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #187 of 261 in Maryland. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than almost every U.S. town); diabetes pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Leisure World’s median household income is $62,011; among the 9,417 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 80%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Leisure World adults…
Leisure World runs below MD on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Leisure World is an older town: 77% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Leisure World as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Leisure World adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Care in and near Leisure World
No hospital or community health center in Leisure World 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 Leisure World; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Leisure World adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Leisure World does better than Maryland.
3 in 10 Leisure World 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.
8.3% of Leisure World adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Leisure World and the towns around it
Leisure World’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leisure World | B | 24.9% | 19.3% | 6.1% | CDC place |
| Aspen Hill | A− | 28.9% | 11.6% | 9.2% | CDC place |
| Olney | A+ | 25% | 9.9% | 6.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Leisure World adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Leisure World
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Leisure World is better than Maryland on 18 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Leisure World’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Leisure World | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.7%19.6–26.1 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.6–17.8 | 12% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.9%22.1–28 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 19.3%17.2–21.5 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 56.2%53.1–59.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 56.7%53.9–59.5 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 44.5%41.5–47.7 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 18.6%17.1–20.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 13.8%12.3–15.6 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%8.5–12.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.9%9.1–13.1 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.1%5–7.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 28.6%24.6–33.1 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28%25.5–30.7 | 37.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7.4–10.4 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 89.8%88.5–91 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.9%65.6–70.2 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 96.6%96.1–97.1 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 90%88.4–91.4 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 80%77.5–82.4 | 68.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.5%76.5–84.3 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.1%12.5–15.9 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 28.7%25.6–31.8 | 34.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.2%15.9–20.7 | 24.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.3%8.7–12.3 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5%4.3–5.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%6.8–10 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.9%35–43.2 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.9%19.8–26.6 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.3%7.8–10.9 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 14.3%12.7–16.1 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6–8.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.5–10.8 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.3–5.8 | 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 Leisure World
Is Leisure World a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Leisure World is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: B for health, #187 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 Leisure World?
CDC estimates 24.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.1% and 28%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Leisure World?
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Leisure World’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Leisure World have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–10.4%), 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 Leisure World more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Leisure World.
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.