MACo’s 2024 article on County Health Rankings (CHR) revealed that Frederick, Montgomery, and Howard Counties ranked the highest among Maryland
Counties and it appears the results are very much the same for 2025.
The CHR, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, annually evaluates counties across the U.S. based on more than 30 factors that influence health. These factors include social determinants such as education, employment, housing, physical activity and commuting times. The report emphasizes that where we live, work and play has a significant impact on overall health and well-being. Based on these parameters, Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard counties came out on top for Maryland.
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Here are some of the details that contributed to their rankings:
Strengths:
- Low uninsured rate (<5% of adults)
- High clinical care access (top 10% in MD for primary care providers per capita)
- Healthy behaviors: Low obesity rate (~25%) and high physical activity levels.
Strengths:
- Low premature death rate (well below state average)
- Strong mental health support: High access to mental health providers.
- Clean environment: Low air pollution and high water quality scores.
Strengths:
- Educational attainment: 60%+ with college degrees (linked to better health outcomes).
- Diverse healthcare access: High density of specialists and community clinics.
- Health equity focus: Narrower racial health disparities vs. other large counties.
See the full breakdown
