Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Takoma Park is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Takoma Park beats Maryland on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Takoma Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Takoma Park
Health varies a lot right around Takoma Park
Grades next door run from Washington (A+) to Langley Park (D). Takoma Park is an A. Around town ↓
Takoma Park is an active town
Only 19.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.6% across Maryland. Habits ↓
Takoma Park has a community health center but no hospital
The Community Clinic is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, 3.4 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Takoma Park’s likely range.
What’s behind Takoma Park’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Takoma Park is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns, #66 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 diabetes, still better than 63%.
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). Takoma Park’s median household income is $108,136; among the 7,438 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$135K), it’s healthier than 83%, about where its income would put it.
Takoma Park and the towns around it
Takoma Park’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takoma Park | A | 30.1% | 11.2% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Silver Spring | A | 29.5% | 10% | 8.4% | CDC place |
| Chillum | C+ | 42.5% | 14.4% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Langley Park | D | 45.9% | 15.1% | 17.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Care in and near Takoma Park
1 community health center in Takoma Park, 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 Takoma Park; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Takoma Park adults…
Takoma Park runs below MD on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Takoma Park adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Takoma Park adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Takoma Park does better than Maryland.
1 in 3 Takoma Park 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.
10.4% of Takoma Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Takoma Park adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Takoma Park
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Takoma Park is better than Maryland on 10 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Takoma Park’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Takoma Park | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.6%15–18.3 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%10–12.3 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.9–14.5 | 15% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.1%26.7–33.3 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.2%10.1–12.4 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%32.3–36.9 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%37.9–42.9 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.6%20.8–24.3 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.3–11.3 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.5–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.2%5.9–8.7 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.5%7.3–9.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.5%17.4–21.7 | 23.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.9–15.4 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%33–38.9 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%75.6–80.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.8%64.5–69 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.2%90–92.2 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%73.3–78.1 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.2%65.3–71 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%75.3–83.3 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%16.6–20.5 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%29.8–35.6 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%19.9–24.6 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%12.1–15.7 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.9–14.1 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.2–7.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.4%8.9–11.9 | 11.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.3%21.1–25.5 | 26.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 12.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 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 Takoma Park
Is Takoma Park a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Takoma Park is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health, #66 of 261 in Maryland. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 83%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Takoma Park?
CDC estimates 30.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.7% and 33.3%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Takoma Park?
Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, 3.4 miles in a straight line from Takoma Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Takoma Park have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–9.8%), 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 Takoma Park 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 Takoma Park.
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.