Dorchester County Health Data
Dorchester County, Maryland
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
50/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
74.2 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.0%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
74.2 yr
State avg 77.0 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.0%
State avg 6.4%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
34
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
274
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
20.8%
State avg 16.0%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
21.5
per 100K residentsCDC: 33.9 per 100K
Dentists
6.1
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Dorchester County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Dorchester | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 41.9% | 36.4% | 37.6% | 5.5 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 12.8% | 10.7% | 11.2% | 2.1 pts worse than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 36.9% | 34.1% | 33.5% | 2.8 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 21.6% | 21.8% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Dorchester | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 16.6% | 12.9% | 16.3% | 3.7 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 15.9% | 16.5% | 17.8% | 0.6 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 27.8% | 23.7% | 27.0% | 4.1 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Dorchester | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 78.5% | 77.4% | 74.9% | 1.1 pts better than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 55.8% | 62.7% | 57.3% | 6.9 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 81.2% | 79.0% | 73.3% | 2.2 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Dorchester | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 19.1% | 17.0% | 18.6% | 2.1 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 40.7% | 38.2% | 37.3% | 2.5 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Dorchester County nationally on dental visit (past year).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Dorchester County Faces Significant Gap in Primary Care Providers
Health data brief for Dorchester County, Maryland.
Dorchester County has 34 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, less than half the national median of 70 per 100,000. The county reports a life expectancy of 74.2 years, which is lower than the Maryland average of 77.0 years and the national average of 77 years. Additionally, 20.8% of the population reports being in poor or fair health, a rate higher than the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in Dorchester is 7.0%, higher than the Maryland state average of 6.4% but lower than the national average of 10%. The county has 274 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, exceeding the national median of 250. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Dorchester County, Maryland
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Eastern Shore Hospital Center
eHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.