Howard County Health Data
Howard County, Maryland
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
99/100
Excellent
Life Expectancy
82.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
4.3%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
82.5 yr
State avg 77.0 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
4.3%
State avg 6.4%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
184
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
427
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
10.7%
State avg 16.0%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
19.2
per 100K residentsCDC: 183.5 per 100K
Dentists
8.1
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
12.3
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 Howard County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 29.6% | 36.4% | 37.6% | 6.8 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 9.1% | 10.7% | 11.2% | 1.6 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 31.3% | 34.1% | 33.5% | 2.8 pts better than state |
| Depression | 18.2% | 21.8% | 24.1% | 3.6 pts better than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 7.3% | 12.9% | 16.3% | 5.6 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 14.5% | 16.5% | 17.8% | 2.0 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 15.8% | 23.7% | 27.0% | 7.9 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 79.3% | 77.4% | 74.9% | 1.9 pts better than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 71.7% | 62.7% | 57.3% | 9.0 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 82.9% | 79.0% | 73.3% | 3.9 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 13.0% | 17.0% | 18.6% | 4.0 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 37.4% | 38.2% | 37.3% | 0.8 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Howard 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
Howard County Exceeds National Median for Primary Care Provider Access
Health data brief for Howard County, Maryland.
Howard County features 184 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, more than double the national median of 70 per 100,000. This clinical availability accompanies a life expectancy of 82.5 years, which is higher than the state average of 77.0 years and the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate in the county is 4.3%, lower than the state average of 6.4% and the national average of 10%. Only 10.7% of residents report being in poor or fair health, a rate lower than the national average of 17%. For mental health, the county has 427 providers per 100,000 residents, which is significantly higher than the national median of 250. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Howard 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 →Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
EReHealth 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.