A new report from Montgomery County’s health department shows Black and Hispanic residents continue to face significant health disparities.
The report, “Health in Montgomery County 2013–2022”, provides a detailed overview of health outcomes and disparities across the county. It draws on local, state, and national data to track trends in chronic disease, maternal and infant health, behavioral health, and more.
In a press release, County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized the value of the findings.
“This report helps us understand what’s working and what isn’t,” Elrich said. “The good news is that Montgomery County continues to perform better than the state and national averages in many areas. But the data also makes it clear that we have persistent health disparities, especially when it comes to outcomes for Black and Hispanic residents.”
Elrich added that the county must use this data to expand community-based services and improve accessibility with a focus on equity.
The report incorporates new indicators from Healthy Montgomery 2030 and Healthy People 2030, along with insights from the Health Equity Report 2013–2021. It also uses data from federal and local health surveys to provide detailed data by ZIP code.
Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis called the report both a resource and a call to action.
“Montgomery County performs better than state and national averages in many areas, such as life expectancy,” Davis said. “However, the data also indicates troubling trends in access to and utilization of care services, as well as disparities in areas like infant mortality and chronic disease management.”
The report serves as a centralized resource to inform data-driven policy and targeted interventions across the county.
Key findings of the report include:
| Category | Key Findings | Notable Disparities |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | County population is increasingly diverse; non-Hispanic White population is declining. | Black and Hispanic residents are growing in numbers but still experience worse health outcomes. |
| Infant Health | Lower rates of low birth weight (7.3%) and infant mortality (3.6 per 1,000) than Maryland overall. | Non-Hispanic Black infants have the highest rates of low birth weight and mortality. |
| Leading Causes of Death (2020–2022) | Heart disease (24.9%), cancer (19.5%), COVID-19 (9.4%), stroke (5.4%), accidents (4.4%). | COVID-19 was the top cause of death and hospitalization for Hispanic residents. |
| Heart Disease | Declining ER visits and mortality; County does better than the state. | Non-Hispanic Black residents have the highest rates. |
| STIs | Rates of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis are rising but still lower than state/national rates. | Non-Hispanic Blacks and ages 20–44 have the highest STI rates. |
| Substance Use | ER visits dropped, but drug-induced deaths increased. | Non-Hispanic Whites and ages 18–34 have the highest drug death rates. |
| Motor Vehicle Accidents | Mortality and hospitalizations fell and remain lower than state levels. | Hispanics and ages 18–34 had the highest death rates; non-Hispanic Blacks had the most ER visits. |
To view the full report and other DHHS publications, visit the Publications and Reports section of the DHHS website. For more information on Healthy Montgomery, visit the Healthy Montgomery website.
