Photo: Preservation Maryland · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Waldorf is healthier than 23%
Waldorf differs from Maryland on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waldorf. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waldorf
Maryland sets a high bar
Waldorf is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, but only 30% of the 261 Maryland towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Waldorf’s lead shrinks
Waldorf is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, but 23% of the 6,291 towns with similar household incomes ($87K–$145K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Waldorf
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.5%), vs 15.4% across Maryland. Utility shut-off threats (11.4% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (17.1% vs 13.5%) are higher too. Everyday needs ↓
More Waldorf adults lack emotional support
3 in 10 adults lack social or emotional support (28.5%), vs 24.2% across Maryland. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 16.8%, vs 15% across Maryland. Mind & connection ↓
Obesity runs high in Waldorf
43.1% of adults have obesity, vs 35.1% across Maryland. 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 Waldorf’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Waldorf’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waldorf is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #182 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 86% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Waldorf’s median household income is $116,089; among the 6,291 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$145K), it’s healthier than 23%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most Maryland towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Waldorf is healthier than 30% of graded towns, against 58% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.4% of Waldorf adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
How Waldorf adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Waldorf runs above Maryland.
4 in 10 Waldorf 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.
Out of every 100 Waldorf adults…
Waldorf runs below MD on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Waldorf residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Maryland. Heart disease, COPD and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Waldorf
No hospital or community health center in Waldorf 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 Waldorf; ≈ 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 16 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Waldorf adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Waldorf and the towns around it
Waldorf’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf | B | 43.1% | 13% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Accokeek | B+ | 40.1% | 13.3% | 8.6% | CDC place |
| Bensville | B | 41.9% | 13% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Brandywine | B | 43.8% | 14.1% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| Cedarville | — | — | — | — |
Cedarville: 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 Waldorf adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waldorf
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waldorf is better than Maryland on 4 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Waldorf’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waldorf | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.6%15.8–19.7 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.3–12.9 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.1–18.6 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.1%38.7–47.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13%11.6–14.5 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%37.3–43.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31.7–37.4 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.8%21.6–26 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%4.1–5 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%8.2–11.9 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6%10.2–13.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%20.7–26.5 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%11.2–15.4 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.2%38.3–46.1 | 37.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.6–8.8 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.9%78.3–83.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.2%59.3–64.9 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.6–91 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%73.1–78 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%63.6–70.6 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.3%77.7–86.1 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.5%15.4–19.9 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.7%32.7–40.7 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.5%25.3–31.8 | 24.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.5%16.3–20.9 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.1%15.1–19.3 | 13.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.4%10–12.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.4%12.7–16.4 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.5%22.8–28.3 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 12.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%11.4–14.1 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.5–8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–4 | 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 Waldorf
Is Waldorf a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waldorf is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #182 of 261 in Maryland. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waldorf?
CDC estimates 43.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.7% and 47.6%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waldorf?
University of MD Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata, 7.0 miles in a straight line from Waldorf’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waldorf have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–8.8%), 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 Waldorf more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waldorf.
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.