Photo: Adam Moss · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Ridgely is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns
Ridgely trails Maryland on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ridgely. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ridgely
Depression is more common in Ridgely
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.6%), vs 19.4% across Maryland. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.4%, vs 15% across Maryland. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Ridgely
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16%), vs 10.9% across Maryland. Habits ↓
Ridgely is behind on routine checkups
It trails Maryland on three of five routine checkups and screenings: dentist visits (59.4% vs 64.4%), cholesterol checks (87.4% vs 89.6%) and mammograms (73.8% vs 80.7%). Checkups ↓
Ridgely is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ridgely is healthier than 35%. Against the 9,425 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 52%. 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 Ridgely’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Ridgely’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgely is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 46% 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). Ridgely’s median household income is $62,048; among the 9,425 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
How Ridgely adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ridgely runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 Ridgely 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ridgely adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Out of every 100 Ridgely adults…
Ridgely runs above MD on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ridgely
No hospital or community health center in Ridgely 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 Ridgely; ≈ 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.
14.6% of Ridgely adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Ridgely and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgely | C | 40.2% | 12.4% | 16% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ridgely adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ridgely
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ridgely is better than Maryland on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Ridgely’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ridgely | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%17.2–23.6 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.5–16.4 | 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 | 40.2%34.4–45.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%34.2–41.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%35–42.3 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.5%27.4–33.4 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.7–13.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.1%6.8–9.5 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.6%9.3–14 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.3–18.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.7%22.6–30.9 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.5–17.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%34.3–45.1 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.2–12.6 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.6–81.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.4%55.7–62.7 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.2–89.2 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.3%72.3–78 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%61.5–70.9 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.8%66.3–80 | 80.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%21.3–27.8 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%30.8–40.6 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%21.6–29 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.5%14.4–20.8 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%12.3–17 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.8–10.6 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.4–10.1 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%11.9–17.6 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.3%27.3–35.5 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%12.3–16.9 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%13.9–18.5 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.6–6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.6–10.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.8 | 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 Ridgely
Is Ridgely a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgely is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ridgely?
CDC estimates 40.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.4% and 45.8%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ridgely?
University of MD Shore Medical Center at Easton in Easton, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Ridgely’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ridgely have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–12.6%), 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 Ridgely 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 Ridgely.
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.