Health · Cambridge
Cambridge, MD health
Cambridge differs from Maryland on 23 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (79.6% vs 76.6%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (23.6% vs 9.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for CambridgeTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Cambridge’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Cambridge is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressCMental distressD-ObesityD-DiabetesC-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 7%
Less healthyHealthier
Maryland towns we grade (332)Healthier than 1%
Towns with similar incomes, $35K–$59K (4,442)Healthier than 21%
About what its income would suggest. Cambridge does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Cambridge could be anywhere from D− to C−.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Maryland ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Cambridge with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Cambridge uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Cambridge compares with Maryland
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
45.9% have obesity
0 better3 close9 worse
Habits
33.9% get no exercise
0 better1 close3 worse
Care & screenings
82% had a checkup
1 better3 close3 worse
Mind & connection
33.7% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
28.4% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
36.8% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Cambridge adults…
46 of every 100 Cambridge adults have high blood pressure
Maryland: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 42.5–49.8%
Bars show Cambridge; the black tick is Maryland. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Cambridge, betterCambridge, worseToo close to callMaryland
Get no exerciseshare of adults
33.9% Cambridge
MD 23.6%
MD 23.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
42.8% Cambridge
MD 37.7%
MD 37.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
12.5% Cambridge
MD 14.1%
MD 14.1%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.3% Cambridge
MD 10.9%
MD 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Cambridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
Yearly checkup
MD 79%Dentist visit
MD 64%Cholesterol check
MD 90%Colon screening
MD 68%Mammogram
MD 81%Taking BP meds
MD 77%1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Cambridge 12.2% · Maryland 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Cambridge adults are doing
1 in 3Cambridge adults feel lonely
33.7% · Maryland 34.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Cambridge adults have been diagnosed with depression
20% · Maryland 19.4% · too close to call
1 in 4Cambridge adults lack social or emotional support
27.6% · Maryland 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Cambridge adults are in frequent mental distress
18.6% · Maryland 15% · worse
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 4
Cambridge adults worry about having enough food
28.4% · MD 15.4% · worse
1 in 4
Cambridge adults worry about keeping their housing
22.4% · MD 13.5% · worse
1 in 6
Cambridge adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
16.3% · MD 8.4% · worse
1 in 7
Cambridge adults lack reliable transportation
14.4% · MD 7.8% · worse
29.2% of Cambridge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Disability
Living with a disability
36.8%
of Cambridge adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs21%
Thinking or memory17.4%
Hearing7.8%
Errands alone12.2%
Vision8.9%
Dressing or bathing7%
Black tick: Maryland. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Cambridge
1 community health center in Cambridge, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERUniversity of Md Shore Medical Center at EastonEaston · 14.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careChoptank Community Health SystemCambridge · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.8 mi
Choptank Community Health System
6 sites · nearest in Cambridge
Women, Infants, and Children (Wic)Cambridge · 0.8 mi
Fassett-Magee Health Center/Cambridge Dental CenterCambridge · 1 mi
Easton Health CenterEaston · 14.4 mi
Women, Infants, and Children (Wic) Talbot CountyEaston · 15.5 mi
Bay Hundred Medical and Dental CenterSaint Michaels · 17.1 mi
Federalsburg Health CenterFederalsburg · 18.6 mi
14.5 mi
Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc. - Easton Center
Easton · community health center
Nothing matches.
! Primary careCambridge's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Dorchester County · need score 19 of 25
! Dental careCambridge's county is a federal shortage area.Dorchester County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthCambridge's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME - Dorchester County · need score 14 of 25
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 Cambridge. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Cambridge
| Measure | Cambridge | Margin | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 46.2% | 42.5–49.8% | 36.8% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 37.1% | 33.5–40.7% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 45.9% | 39.9–51.9% | 35.1% | worse |
| Arthritis | 34.6% | 31.6–37.7% | 25.8% | worse |
| Depression | 20% | 17.2–23% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 23.6% | 20.3–27% | 9.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.4% | 11.1–13.9% | 10.6% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8% | 7.3–8.7% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 19% | 17–21.2% | 12.5% | worse |
| COPD | 10.7% | 9.6–12% | 5.9% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.8% | 8–9.8% | 5.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2% | 3.4% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.3% | 16.1–20.9% | 10.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 12.5% | 10.3–14.9% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 33.9% | 29.8–38.3% | 23.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.8% | 37.8–47.9% | 37.7% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82% | 79.1–84.7% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 52.5% | 49.2–55.8% | 64.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 87.3% | 85.7–88.8% | 89.6% | worse |
| Colon screening | 66.3% | 61.9–70.4% | 68.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 81.5% | 76.1–86.2% | 80.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.6% | 77.1–81.8% | 76.6% | better |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 10.4–14.1% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.7% | 29.4–38.5% | 34.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 27.6% | 24.2–31.3% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.6% | 16.7–20.7% | 15% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 28.4% | 25.6–31.7% | 17.9% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.4% | 15.7–19.5% | 12% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 28.4% | 25.3–31.7% | 15.4% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 22.4% | 19.9–25.1% | 13.5% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 16.3% | 14.5–18.4% | 8.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 14.4% | 12.9–16.1% | 7.8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 29.2% | 26.2–32.3% | 11.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8% | 33.1–41% | 26.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 21% | 18.9–23.4% | 12.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.4% | 15.6–19.5% | 12.2% | |
| Hearing | 7.8% | 7–8.7% | 5.6% | |
| Vision | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7% | 4.5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 7% | 6.4–7.8% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 12.2% | 10.9–13.5% | 7% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Cambridge door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Maryland figure falls inside it, we don't call Cambridge better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Cambridge directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maryland figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.