Health · Smithsburg
Smithsburg, MD health
Smithsburg differs from Maryland on 9 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults with high cholesterol (33.5% vs 38.1%). Where it trails the state: more smokers (15.1% vs 10.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for SmithsburgTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B−
Smithsburg’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Smithsburg is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns.
BSelf-rated healthBPhysical distressCMental distressC+ObesityB+DiabetesC+SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 49%
Less healthyHealthier
Maryland towns we grade (332)Healthier than 25%
Towns with similar incomes, $76K–$126K (7,934)Healthier than 25%
Wealth explains part of the grade. Smithsburg is healthier than 49% 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, Smithsburg 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 Smithsburg 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. Smithsburg 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 Smithsburg 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
37.9% have obesity
1 better9 close2 worse
Habits
26.9% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
77.7% had a checkup
0 better3 close4 worse
Mind & connection
35.4% feel lonely
0 better4 close1 worse
Everyday needs
13.9% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
29.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Smithsburg adults…
34 of every 100 Smithsburg adults have high blood pressure
Maryland: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 31.3–36.8%
Bars show Smithsburg; the black tick is Maryland. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Smithsburg, betterSmithsburg, worseToo close to callMaryland
Get no exerciseshare of adults
26.9% Smithsburg
MD 23.6%
MD 23.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
40.1% Smithsburg
MD 37.7%
MD 37.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.4% Smithsburg
MD 14.1%
MD 14.1%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
15.1% Smithsburg
MD 10.9%
MD 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Smithsburg 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 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Smithsburg 8.3% · Maryland 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Smithsburg adults are doing
1 in 3Smithsburg adults feel lonely
35.4% · Maryland 34.3% · too close to call
1 in 4Smithsburg adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.1% · Maryland 19.4% · worse
1 in 4Smithsburg adults lack social or emotional support
24.3% · Maryland 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 6Smithsburg adults are in frequent mental distress
18.1% · 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 7
Smithsburg adults worry about having enough food
13.9% · MD 15.4% · about the same
1 in 8
Smithsburg adults worry about keeping their housing
12.5% · MD 13.5% · about the same
1 in 13
Smithsburg adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8% · MD 8.4% · about the same
1 in 13
Smithsburg adults lack reliable transportation
7.7% · MD 7.8% · about the same
11.4% of Smithsburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Disability
Living with a disability
29.6%
of Smithsburg adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12.2%
Thinking or memory15.3%
Hearing6%
Errands alone7.9%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.5%
Black tick: Maryland. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Smithsburg
No hospital or community health center in Smithsburg itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERMeritus Medical CenterHagerstown · 5.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careKeystone Rural Health CenterWaynesboro · 6.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
6.4 mi
Keystone Rural Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Waynesboro
Keystone Foot and Ankle Center WaynesboroWaynesboro · 6.4 mi
Keystone Internal Medicine WaynesboroWaynesboro · 6.4 mi
Keystone Medical Associates WaynesboroWaynesboro · 6.6 mi
Keystone Pediatrics WaynesboroWaynesboro · 6.8 mi
Keystone Crisis Intervention Seventh StreetChambersburg · 19.6 mi
Keystone Urgent Care Catherine StreetChambersburg · 19.7 mi
7.1 mi
Walnut Street Community Health Center, Inc. D/B/A Family Healthcare of Hagerstown
Hagerstown · community health center
Nothing matches.
! Primary careSmithsburg's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME - Washington County · need score 17 of 25
✓ Dental careSmithsburg is not a shortage area
! Mental healthSmithsburg's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME - Washington 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 Smithsburg. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Smithsburg
| Measure | Smithsburg | Margin | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 34% | 31.3–36.8% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 33.5% | 31.1–36.1% | 38.1% | better |
| Obesity | 37.9% | 34–42.2% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8% | 25.6–30.2% | 25.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.1% | 22.5–27.8% | 19.4% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.3% | 8.6–12.1% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11% | 9.9–12.2% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.9% | 7.1–8.6% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6% | 12.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 7.3% | 6.1–8.4% | 5.9% | worse |
| Heart disease | 5.7% | 5–6.4% | 5.8% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.1% | 2.7–3.4% | 3.4% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1% | 12.6–17.7% | 10.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 15.4% | 13.2–17.6% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 26.9% | 23.5–30.4% | 23.6% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1% | 36.6–43.5% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.7% | 74.8–80.2% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 61.7% | 59–64.3% | 64.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 86.8% | 84.7–88.8% | 89.6% | worse |
| Colon screening | 60.4% | 56.9–63.7% | 68.2% | worse |
| Mammogram | 77.7% | 72.9–81.8% | 80.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 73.6% | 70.8–76.3% | 76.6% | worse |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 6.6–10.3% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.4% | 31.4–39.1% | 34.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.3% | 20.8–27.5% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.1% | 16.1–20.2% | 15% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 18.2% | 15.8–20.9% | 17.9% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.6% | 12–15.3% | 12% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.9% | 11.2–16.8% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12.5% | 10.3–14.6% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8% | 6.7–9.4% | 8.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.7% | 6.4–8.9% | 7.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.4% | 8.9–14% | 11.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6% | 26.4–33% | 26.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.2% | 10.5–14.1% | 12.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.3% | 13.2–17.5% | 12.2% | |
| Hearing | 6% | 5.3–6.8% | 5.6% | |
| Vision | 4.3% | 3.7–4.8% | 4.5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.5% | 3–4% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1% | 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 Smithsburg door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Maryland figure falls inside it, we don't call Smithsburg better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Smithsburg 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.