Where Smith Island residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Smith Island, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Smith Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Smith Island
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Smith Island
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.5%), about twice the Maryland rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 5.8% across Maryland. Cancer is also above the state: 12.8%, vs 7.6% across Maryland. In all, Smith Island runs above Maryland on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Maryland 17%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Smith Island adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.2%), vs 23.6% across Maryland. Habits ↓
Smoking is more common in Smith Island
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.4%), vs 10.9% 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 Smith Island’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Smith Island adults…
Smith Island runs above MD on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Smith Island is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Smith Island as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Smith Island
No hospital or community health center in Smith Island 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 Smith Island; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Smith Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Smith Island adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Smith Island runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 Smith Island 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 Smith Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Smith Island and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Smith Island adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Smith Island
Why doesn’t Smith Island have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Smith Island.
What hospital is closest to Smith Island?
Rappahannock General Hospital in Kilmarnock, 24.0 miles in a straight line from Smith Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Smith Island.
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. 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.