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Howard County, Maryland

Low risk

Gera County Health Risk Index: 24.9/100 · National rank 444 of 480 · Population: 336,001 · CDC PLACES June 2026

What is the chronic-disease health risk in Howard County, Maryland?

As of June 2026, Howard County, Maryland has a Gera County Health Risk Index of 24.9/100 (national rank 444/480; low risk). Adult chronic-disease prevalence: obesity 30.0%, diabetes 10.4%, coronary heart disease 4.8%, smoking 7.4%. Source: CDC PLACES June 2026.

Source:CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County Data 2023 release·as of June 2026updated annually (last: )
Gera County Health Risk Index24.9 / 100Rank 444 of 480 most-populous US counties. Computed from CDC PLACES June 2026 crude prevalence for 4 chronic-disease measures, weighted and normalised 0–100. Higher = higher risk.How this index is calculated

Chronic-disease prevalence — Howard County (CDC PLACES June 2026)

Howard County, Maryland — CDC PLACES June 2026 crude prevalence (adults)
MeasurePrevalenceWeight in GCHRI
Obesity30.0%25%
Diagnosed diabetes10.4%25%
Coronary heart disease4.8%30%
Current cigarette smoking7.4%20%
GCHRI composite score24.9 / 100—

Check another county's health risk

Search any of the 480 most-populous US counties to compare GCHRI scores and CDC prevalence rates.

Howard County, Maryland

Population: 336,001 · National rank: 444 / 480 (by chronic-disease risk)

Low risk

Gera County Health Risk Index

24.9 / 100

Obesity

30.0%

adults

Diabetes

10.4%

adults

Heart Disease

4.8%

adults

Smoking

7.4%

adults

Source: CDC PLACES, June 2026 · Crude prevalence, adults · Full county page →

Other counties in Maryland

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Gera County Health Risk Index for Howard County, MD?
Howard County, MD has a Gera County Health Risk Index (GCHRI) of 24.9/100, ranking 444 out of 480 most-populous US counties (rank 1 = highest chronic-disease risk). This places it in the low-risk tier. Source: CDC PLACES (June 2026).
What is the obesity rate in Howard County?
The adult obesity prevalence in Howard County, MD is 30.0% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence). The national mean across the 480 included counties is 30.0%.
What is the diabetes rate in Howard County?
The diagnosed diabetes prevalence among adults in Howard County, MD is 10.4% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence).
What is the coronary heart disease rate in Howard County?
The coronary heart disease prevalence among adults in Howard County, MD is 4.8% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence).
What is the smoking rate in Howard County?
The current cigarette smoking prevalence among adults in Howard County, MD is 7.4% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence).

Concerned about health risks in Howard County?

A GeraClinic care navigator can help you understand what these CDC chronic-disease rates mean for you personally, assess your individual risk factors, and connect you with preventive-care resources — fully online.

Talk to a GeraClinic care navigatorHow the Gera County Health Risk Index is calculated

Contains public sector information published by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and licensed under the U.S. Public Domain (federal government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105). Source: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County Data 2023 release (June 2026, published 2023 (released 2024)).

Informational/educational only — not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.