Health · La Plata
La Plata, MD health
On most measures La Plata looks like Maryland as a whole. It has fewer uninsured adults (6.9% vs 8.7%) and fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (8.2% vs 9.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for La PlataTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B+
La Plata’s Health Grade: B+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, La Plata is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns.
A-Self-rated healthA-Physical distressB+Mental distressC+ObesityB-DiabetesA-SmokingB+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 70%
Less healthyHealthier
Maryland towns we grade (332)Healthier than 48%
Towns with similar incomes, $91K–$152K (5,303)Healthier than 35%
Wealth explains part of the grade. La Plata is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, La Plata could be anywhere from C+ to A.
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 La Plata 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. La Plata 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 La Plata 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
38.2% have obesity
1 better11 close0 worse
Habits
21.9% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
80% had a checkup
1 better6 close0 worse
Mind & connection
34.4% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
13.4% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
26.1% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 La Plata adults…
39 of every 100 La Plata adults have high blood pressure
Maryland: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 35.9–41.8%
Bars show La Plata; the black tick is Maryland. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
La Plata, betterLa Plata, worseToo close to callMaryland
Get no exerciseshare of adults
21.9% La Plata
MD 23.6%
MD 23.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.9% La Plata
MD 37.7%
MD 37.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.5% La Plata
MD 14.1%
MD 14.1%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
11.2% La Plata
MD 10.9%
MD 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of La Plata 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 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
La Plata 6.9% · Maryland 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How La Plata adults are doing
1 in 3La Plata adults feel lonely
34.4% · Maryland 34.3% · too close to call
1 in 5La Plata adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.2% · Maryland 19.4% · too close to call
1 in 4La Plata adults lack social or emotional support
24.8% · Maryland 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 6La Plata adults are in frequent mental distress
16% · Maryland 15% · too close to call
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 7
La Plata adults worry about having enough food
13.4% · MD 15.4% · about the same
1 in 8
La Plata adults worry about keeping their housing
12% · MD 13.5% · about the same
1 in 13
La Plata adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.8% · MD 8.4% · about the same
1 in 14
La Plata adults lack reliable transportation
7.2% · MD 7.8% · about the same
9.9% of La Plata adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Disability
Living with a disability
26.1%
of La Plata adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12%
Thinking or memory12.2%
Hearing5.7%
Errands alone6.9%
Vision4.2%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Black tick: Maryland. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around La Plata
La Plata and the towns around it
Care nearby
University of Md Charles Regional Medical CenterLa Plata · 1 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Adventist Healthcare Fort Washington Medical CtrFort Washington · 12.9 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Fort Belvoir Community HospitalFort Belvoir · 14.8 mi · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital CenterClinton · 15.2 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Greater Baden Medical Service at La PlataLa Plata · 1 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
Greater Baden Medical Service at Bryans RoadBryans Road · 8 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
! Primary careLa Plata's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME-Charles County · need score 16 of 25
✓ Dental careLa Plata is not a shortage area
! Mental healthLa Plata's county is a federal shortage area.Charles County · need score 14 of 25
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of La Plata. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for La Plata
| Measure | La Plata | Margin | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.8% | 35.9–41.8% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.2% | 34.4–40.3% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.2% | 33.9–42.8% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5% | 24.3–29% | 25.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 19.2% | 16.8–21.8% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 8.2% | 6.7–9.8% | 9.9% | better |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.4–11.7% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.1% | 7.4–8.8% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9% | 10.6–13.4% | 12.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6% | 5.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.4% | 4.9–6% | 5.8% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.3% | 3–3.6% | 3.4% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2% | 9.6–13.1% | 10.9% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.5% | 12.4–16.8% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 21.9% | 19.1–25.2% | 23.6% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9% | 33.1–40.5% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 80% | 77.4–82.4% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 66% | 63.3–68.6% | 64.4% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 89.9% | 88.5–91.1% | 89.6% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 69.6% | 66–72.9% | 68.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 80.4% | 75.5–84.5% | 80.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77% | 74.6–79.3% | 76.6% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 5.8–8.2% | 8.7% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.4% | 30.4–38.3% | 34.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.8% | 21.6–28% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16% | 14.3–17.9% | 15% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 16.3% | 14.4–18.5% | 17.9% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 11.9% | 10.5–13.3% | 12% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.4% | 11.4–15.7% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12% | 10.3–13.8% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.8% | 6.7–9% | 8.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2% | 7.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 9.9% | 8.3–11.7% | 11.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.1% | 23.3–29.3% | 26.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12% | 10.6–13.6% | 12.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7% | 12.2% | |
| Hearing | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4% | 5.6% | |
| Vision | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6% | 4.5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8% | 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 La Plata door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Maryland figure falls inside it, we don't call La Plata better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes La Plata 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.