Silver Spring Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station · Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Silver Spring is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Silver Spring differs from Maryland on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Silver Spring. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Silver Spring
1 in 8 working-age adults in Silver Spring has no health insurance
12.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.7% across Maryland. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Silver Spring
Grades next door run from Chevy Chase (A+) to Langley Park (D). Silver Spring is an A. Around town ↓
Arthritis and cancer are less common in Silver Spring
Silver Spring runs below Maryland on eight chronic conditions, most of all arthritis (18.3% vs 25.8%), cancer (5.4% vs 7.6%) and COPD (4.3% vs 5.9%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Maryland 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Silver Spring’s likely range.
What’s behind Silver Spring’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Silver Spring is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #60 of 261 in Maryland. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 94% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 67%.
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). Silver Spring’s median household income is $99,860; among the 8,620 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$125K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Silver Spring adults…
Silver Spring runs below MD on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Silver Spring residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Silver Spring adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Silver Spring and the towns around it
Silver Spring’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring | A | 29.5% | 10% | 8.4% | CDC place |
| Chevy Chase | A+ | 22.9% | 8.7% | 4.8% | CDC place |
| Takoma Park | A | 30.1% | 11.2% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Four Corners | A+ | 25.7% | 9.1% | 6.6% | CDC place |
| South Kensington | A+ | 23.4% | 8.3% | 5.1% | CDC place |
| Hillandale | B | 33% | 14% | 10% | CDC place |
| Langley Park | D | 45.9% | 15.1% | 17.7% | CDC place |
| Forest Glen | A | 26.5% | 10.1% | 7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Silver Spring
1 community health center in Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring; ≈ 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.
11 miles of trails across 32 parks and preserves
How Silver Spring adults are doing
About the same as Maryland on each measure.
1 in 3 Silver Spring 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.
12.9% of Silver Spring adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Silver Spring adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Silver Spring
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Silver Spring is better than Maryland on 12 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Silver Spring’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Silver Spring | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.9–19 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.7–11.8 | 12% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.7–15.4 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.5%26.2–32.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10%9–11 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.9%27.7–31.9 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%34.1–38.9 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18.3%16.7–19.8 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%9–11 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.9–4.8 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.5–2.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.2%6.9–9.8 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.5%18.4–22.6 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%12.9–16.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%32.9–38.9 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.1%10.8–13.4 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.7%72.1–77.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.7%62.4–66.9 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%87.2–89.7 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71%68.3–73.3 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%63.7–69.5 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%75.9–83.7 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.8%16.8–20.8 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.7%31.8–37.8 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%21.2–26 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.3%15.6–19.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%13.5–16.7 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.7–9.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.9%11.5–14.3 | 11.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.3%21.2–25.3 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%11–13.3 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.8–7 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%3–3.5 | 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 Silver Spring
Is Silver Spring a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Silver Spring is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #60 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Silver Spring?
CDC estimates 29.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.2% and 32.6%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Silver Spring?
Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, 4.8 miles in a straight line from Silver Spring’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Silver Spring have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–13.4%), 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 Silver Spring more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Silver Spring.
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.