Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Maryland, Middle River is healthier than 12% of graded towns
Middle River trails Maryland on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Middle River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Middle River
Mental distress runs high in Middle River
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.8%), vs 15% across Maryland. Depression is above the state too: 22.8%, vs 19.4% across Maryland. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Middle River
22.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 15.4% across Maryland. No reliable transportation (11.3% vs 7.8%) and utility shut-off threats (12.1% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 19.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Middle River
55.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Maryland. Among those 65 and older, 14.9% have lost all their teeth (Maryland 9.9%). 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 Middle River’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B−.
What’s behind Middle River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Middle River is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns, #229 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 61% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Middle River’s median household income is $78,398; among the 10,823 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
How Middle River adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Middle River runs above Maryland.
4 in 10 Middle River 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.
19.5% of Middle River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Keeping up with care
Share of Middle River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Out of every 100 Middle River adults…
Middle River runs above MD on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Middle River
No hospital or community health center in Middle River 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 Middle River; ≈ 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.
16 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Middle River and the towns around it
Middle River’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle River | C | 37.1% | 13.5% | 15% | CDC place |
| Essex | C | 37.1% | 13.9% | 15.2% | CDC place |
| Bowleys Quarters | B | 34.9% | 12.2% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| White Marsh | A− | 30.5% | 11.2% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Rossville | B+ | 34.6% | 11.9% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Rosedale | C+ | 36.3% | 14.3% | 13.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Middle River adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Middle River
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Middle River is better than Maryland on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Middle River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Middle River | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%20.5–24.2 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12.4–14.9 | 12% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%17.3–20.5 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%33.7–40.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%12.3–14.8 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.5%34.3–38.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%34.2–38.9 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.1%25.3–29 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.8–13 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.6–7.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–6.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%7.3–8.8 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.9%12.7–17.5 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%13.5–16.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%27.8–33.1 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.7–15.2 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.1%35.9–42.5 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%9.4–12.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%76.2–80.6 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.9%53.4–58.6 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%85.3–88 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%72.3–76.9 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%62.5–69.2 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%72.3–81.5 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%20.8–25.1 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36.8%33.5–40.1 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%24.8–30.5 | 24.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.3%20–24.6 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.5%16.6–20.6 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.5%17.5–21.6 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%27.5–32.2 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%13.1–15.7 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%14.1–17 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.5–6.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.3–6.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 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 Middle River
Is Middle River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Middle River is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: C for health, #229 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Middle River?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.7% and 40.6%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Middle River?
Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center in Rosedale, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Middle River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Middle River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–12.1%), 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 Middle River more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Middle River.
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.