Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Westminster is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Westminster differs from Maryland on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Westminster. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Westminster
Binge drinking is the habit Westminster doesn’t win on
17.2% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across Maryland. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Depression runs high in Westminster
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23%), vs 19.4% across Maryland. Conditions ↓
Fewer Westminster adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Maryland. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Westminster’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Westminster’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Westminster is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #107 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 90% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Westminster’s median household income is $86,219; among the 10,295 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 83%, about where its income would put it.
Most Maryland towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Westminster is healthier than 59% of graded towns, against 78% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
4.7 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.2% of Westminster adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Out of every 100 Westminster adults…
Westminster runs below MD on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Westminster
No hospital or community health center in Westminster 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 Westminster; ≈ 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 Westminster adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How Westminster adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Westminster runs above Maryland.
1 in 3 Westminster 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.
Westminster and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster | A− | 37% | 9.3% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Westminster adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Westminster
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Westminster is better than Maryland on 9 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside Westminster’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Westminster | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.6%12.8–16.5 | 17.9% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.7–12.3 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.5–18 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37%31.8–41.9 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.3%28.2–34.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.5%31.1–37.7 | 38.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.5%22–26.8 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.5 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.6–9.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 5.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.6%6.9–10.5 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.5%9.1–12 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.7%20.3–26.9 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%14.5–20 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%31.7–41.3 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.5%71–77.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.2%59.9–66.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.7–88.8 | 89.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.5–75.8 | 76.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%60.4–69.1 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.1%74–85.4 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20–25.9 | 19.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.3%29–38 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%18.2–24.4 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.9%9.3–12.7 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.6–11.6 | 13.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.3–7 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.2%7–9.5 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.8%22.7–28.9 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.7%9.3–12.1 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.4–14.4 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.9–7.4 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.4–3 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Westminster
Is Westminster a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Westminster is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #107 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 Westminster?
CDC estimates 37% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 41.9%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Westminster?
Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Westminster’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Westminster have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–8.7%), 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 Westminster more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Westminster.
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.