Photo: Tichnor Brothers, Publisher · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Pocomoke City is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Pocomoke City differs from Maryland on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pocomoke City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pocomoke City
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Pocomoke City
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 5.9% across Maryland. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.4% across Maryland. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.4%, vs 5.8% across Maryland. In all, Pocomoke City runs above Maryland on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Pocomoke City
57.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Maryland. Among those 65 and older, 14.7% have lost all their teeth (Maryland 9.9%). Pocomoke City’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Pocomoke City
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (22%), vs 15.4% across Maryland. Utility shut-off threats (12.8% vs 8.4%) and no reliable transportation (11.3% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 20.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Pocomoke City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pocomoke City is healthier than 20%. Against the 6,836 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 40%. Health Grade ↓
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 Pocomoke City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Pocomoke City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pocomoke City is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #248 of 261 in Maryland. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 39% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Pocomoke City’s median household income is $53,203; among the 6,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pocomoke City compares well: checkup in the past year, 82.4% (U.S. 77.4%).
Out of every 100 Pocomoke City adults…
Pocomoke City runs above MD on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pocomoke City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.6% of Pocomoke City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Care in and near Pocomoke City
1 community health center in Pocomoke City, 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 Pocomoke City; ≈ 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.
1.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Pocomoke City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Pocomoke City runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 Pocomoke City 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.
Pocomoke City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocomoke City | C− | 39.8% | 15.7% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| West Pocomoke | — | — | — | — |
West Pocomoke: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pocomoke City adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pocomoke City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pocomoke City is better than Maryland on 1 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Pocomoke City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pocomoke City | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%20.4–26.7 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.5–17.2 | 12% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.3–20.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%34.7–45.1 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.7%13.8–17.6 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.2%39.9–46.7 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%34.5–41.1 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%28.7–34.2 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.7–13.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.5–8.2 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.3–9.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.7%12.2–17.4 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13.4–18.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%27.3–35.9 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.9–17.9 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%32.2–41.1 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.6–11.2 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%79.7–84.9 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.1%53.7–60.4 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%86.9–90.1 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%76.2–80.9 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%66.1–73.8 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%75.2–85.4 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.6–24.4 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%31.1–39.9 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.6%22.3–29.2 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22%18.8–26 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.6%16.1–21.6 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%11.1–14.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%9.8–13 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.6%17.4–24.2 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.1%29.3–37 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.3–20.1 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.7–17.7 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.4 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.5–5.9 | 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 Pocomoke City
Is Pocomoke City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pocomoke City is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #248 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pocomoke City?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 45.1%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pocomoke City?
Tidalhealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, 20.9 miles in a straight line from Pocomoke City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pocomoke City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–11.2%), 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 Pocomoke City 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 Pocomoke City.
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.