Photo: Aberdeen Proving Ground · CC BY 2.0Within Maryland, North East is healthier than 15% of graded towns
North East differs from Maryland on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North East. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North East
North East is behind on routine checkups
It trails Maryland on five of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (75% vs 79.2%), dentist visits (61% vs 64.4%), cholesterol checks (85.7% vs 89.6%), colon screening (59.9% vs 68.2%) and mammograms (72.2% vs 80.7%). Checkups ↓
Mental distress runs high in North East
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19.2%), vs 15% across Maryland. Depression is above the state too: 24.4%, vs 19.4% across Maryland. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in North East
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16%), vs 10.9% across Maryland. COPD, which smoking drives, is high too: 6.8%, vs 5.9% across Maryland. Habits ↓
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 North East’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind North East’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North East is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns, #223 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 61% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). North East’s median household income is $91,603; among the 9,784 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 19%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Where North East compares well: stroke, 3% (U.S. 3.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of North East adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How North East adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, North East runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 North East 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 North East adults…
North East runs below MD on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near North East
No hospital or community health center in North East 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 North East; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.4% of North East adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
North East and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | C+ | 41.6% | 11.4% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North East adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North East
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North East is better than Maryland on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside North East’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North East | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.5%17.2–22.1 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%12–15.2 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.1–21.5 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.6%36.9–46.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.4%10.1–12.9 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.9%32–37.9 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.4%32.4–38.6 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.3%22.9–27.7 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.8 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.3%9.3–13.5 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.7–18.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.7%24.2–31.5 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.4–18.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%35.3–44.1 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.7–11 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75%71.7–78 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61%57.9–63.9 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.8–87.4 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.2%70.5–75.9 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%55.7–63.9 | 68.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.2%65.8–77.8 | 80.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.6–27.5 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%30.3–39 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%20.3–26.9 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.8%13.5–18.4 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.5–10 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.4–9.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.4%11.3–15.6 | 11.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7%26.4–33.3 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%10.8–13.9 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.7–17.7 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5–6.3 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 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 North East
Is North East a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North East is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #223 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North East?
CDC estimates 41.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.9% and 46.4%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North East?
Christiana Hospital in Newark, 10.9 miles in a straight line from North East’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in North East have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11%), 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 North East more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in North East.
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.