Health · Willards
Willards, MD health
Willards differs from Maryland on 14 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (17.7% vs 10.9%) and more adults with COPD (8.2% vs 5.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WillardsTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Willards’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Willards is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns.
CSelf-rated healthC+Physical distressC-Mental distressC-ObesityBDiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 28%
Less healthyHealthier
Maryland towns we grade (332)Healthier than 11%
Towns with similar incomes, $56K–$94K (9,885)Healthier than 23%
About what its income would suggest. Willards does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Willards could be anywhere from D to B.
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 Willards 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. Willards 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 Willards 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
41.2% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
28.9% get no exercise
0 better1 close3 worse
Care & screenings
78.3% had a checkup
0 better4 close3 worse
Mind & connection
34.6% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
16.3% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
29.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Willards adults…
35 of every 100 Willards adults have high blood pressure
Maryland: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32–37.7%
Bars show Willards; the black tick is Maryland. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Willards, betterWillards, worseToo close to callMaryland
Get no exerciseshare of adults
28.9% Willards
MD 23.6%
MD 23.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.1% Willards
MD 37.7%
MD 37.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16.5% Willards
MD 14.1%
MD 14.1%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.7% Willards
MD 10.9%
MD 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Willards 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 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Willards 10% · Maryland 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Willards adults are doing
1 in 3Willards adults feel lonely
34.6% · Maryland 34.3% · too close to call
1 in 4Willards adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.6% · Maryland 19.4% · worse
1 in 4Willards adults lack social or emotional support
24.3% · Maryland 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Willards adults are in frequent mental distress
19.2% · 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 6
Willards adults worry about having enough food
16.3% · MD 15.4% · about the same
1 in 8
Willards adults worry about keeping their housing
13.2% · MD 13.5% · about the same
1 in 11
Willards adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.9% · MD 8.4% · about the same
1 in 12
Willards adults lack reliable transportation
8.6% · MD 7.8% · about the same
14.7% of Willards adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
Disability
Living with a disability
29.2%
of Willards adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs13.9%
Thinking or memory16.2%
Hearing6.1%
Errands alone9%
Vision5%
Dressing or bathing4.1%
Black tick: Maryland. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Willards
No hospital or community health center in Willards itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERAtlantic General HospitalBerlin · 8.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careThree Lower Counties Community ServicesBerlin · 7.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.9 mi
Three Lower Counties Community Services
8 sites · nearest in Berlin
Chc - Berlin 9958Berlin · 7.9 mi
Chc - Berlin 10344Berlin · 8.7 mi
Chc - WinterplaceSalisbury · 9.6 mi
Chc - Woodbrooke AdultSalisbury · 11.1 mi
Chc - Woodbrooke Ob/GynSalisbury · 11.2 mi
Chc - Pmd PedsSalisbury · 11.2 mi
Chc - Salisbury DentalSalisbury · 11.3 mi
Chc - Hwd BhSalisbury · 12.5 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careWillards's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME-Wicomico County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careWillards's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wicomico County · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthWillards's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wicomico County · need score 17 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 Willards. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Willards
| Measure | Willards | Margin | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 34.8% | 32–37.7% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 39.5% | 36.6–42.4% | 38.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.2% | 36.9–45.8% | 35.1% | worse |
| Arthritis | 28.6% | 26.1–31% | 25.8% | worse |
| Depression | 24.6% | 21.8–27.6% | 19.4% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 12.5% | 10.2–14.9% | 9.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.2% | 10–12.5% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5% | 10.1–13% | 12.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.2% | 7–9.7% | 5.9% | worse |
| Heart disease | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9% | 5.8% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.4% | 3–3.9% | 3.4% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7% | 14.6–20.9% | 10.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16.5% | 14.2–19.2% | 14.1% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 28.9% | 25.1–33.1% | 23.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1% | 32.2–40.1% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.3% | 75.5–81.2% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 52.7% | 49.6–55.8% | 64.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 86.7% | 84.5–88.7% | 89.6% | worse |
| Colon screening | 65.1% | 61.2–68.8% | 68.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 74.4% | 68–79.8% | 80.7% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 75.8% | 73–78.4% | 76.6% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10% | 8–12.7% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.6% | 30.6–38.6% | 34.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.3% | 21–27.7% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.2% | 17–21.4% | 15% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 21.7% | 18.7–25.3% | 17.9% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.6% | 12.8–16.5% | 12% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 16.3% | 13.1–19.7% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 13.2% | 10.9–15.6% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.9% | 7.5–10.3% | 8.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.6% | 7.2–10% | 7.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 14.7% | 11.7–17.9% | 11.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.2% | 25.7–33% | 26.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.9% | 11.8–16% | 12.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.2% | 13.9–18.7% | 12.2% | |
| Hearing | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9% | 5.6% | |
| Vision | 5% | 4.4–5.8% | 4.5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.1% | 3.5–4.8% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 9% | 7.7–10.4% | 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 Willards door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Maryland figure falls inside it, we don't call Willards better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Willards 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.