Health Profile of Potomac, Maryland
Potomac Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A+
Potomac Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Potomac | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 85.9 | 78.4 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 1.5% | 6.3% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 7.0% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Potomac is 85.9 years, about 7.5 years longer than the Maryland average of 78.4 years. The uninsured rate is 1.5%, lower than the Maryland average of 6.3%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 7.0% of residents, lower than the Maryland average of 13.2%.
Population by Age
Older residents
19,648 residents in Potomac are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,098 484 men · 614 women
- 75–84 3,163 1,440 men · 1,723 women
- 65–74 5,341 2,492 men · 2,849 women
- 50–64 10,046 4,623 men · 5,423 women
Younger residents
9,739 residents in Potomac are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 3,652 1,880 boys · 1,772 girls
- 7–12 2,905 1,493 boys · 1,412 girls
- 3–7 1,907 989 boys · 917 girls
- 0–3 1,276 716 boys · 560 girls
About 146 residents in Potomac (0.3% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 85.9 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Potomac | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 8.0% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 7.8% | 6.7% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.2% | 6.0% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 18.3% | 34.0% | 34.3% |
The rate of obesity in Potomac is about 46% lower than in Maryland. The rate of diabetes in Potomac is about 24% lower than in Maryland. The rate of cancer in Potomac is about 17% higher than in Maryland.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Potomac | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 6.1% | 15.9% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 11.3% | 14.9% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 13.1% | 22.9% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Potomac is about 62% lower than in Maryland. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Potomac is about 43% lower than in Maryland. The rate of binge drinking in Potomac is about 24% lower than in Maryland.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 20,302 cigarettes a day, 609,058 a month, or 7.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 223,321 minutes a day and 81.5 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Potomac is 85.9 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.00 lifetimes a day, or 1.81 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Potomac | Maryland Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.51 | 5.95 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.5 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Potomac is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Potomac, MD Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Potomac, MD compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac, MD | 43,455 | 85.9 yrs #1/3 | 1.5% #1/3 | 18.3% #1/3 |
| McLean, VA | 50,555 | 85.1 yrs | 1.9% | 20.2% |
| North Bethesda, MD | 50,620 | 84.2 yrs | 3.8% | 18.8% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Potomac, Maryland has an overall health index grade of A+, making it far better than Maryland, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Potomac, Maryland.
Is Potomac, Maryland a healthy place to live?
Potomac, Maryland has a Map AI Health Index grade of A+, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A+ grade means residents are among the healthiest and longest-living in the country.
How long do people live in Potomac, Maryland?
People in Potomac, Maryland can expect to live 85.9 years on average, 7.5 years longer than the Maryland average of 78.4.
What is the uninsured rate in Potomac, Maryland?
1.5% of residents in Potomac, Maryland have no health insurance, about 1 in 68 people, 4.8 points below the Maryland rate of 6.3%.
How common is obesity in Potomac, Maryland?
18.3% of adults in Potomac, Maryland are classified as obese, about 1 in 5, 15.7 points below the Maryland rate of 34.0%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Potomac, Maryland go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 20,302 cigarettes a day, 609,058 a month, or 7.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 223,321 minutes a day and 81.5 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Potomac is 85.9 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.00 lifetimes a day, or 1.81 lifetimes a year.
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