Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Washington

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
–Not graded
Health in Washington · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Washington residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Washington, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Washington. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Washington

Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Washington

1 in 7 adults have had cancer (13.5%), about twice the California rate. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), about twice the California rate. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.8%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Washington runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Washington, and more people treating it

45.4% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 80.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓

Washington keeps up with checkups

It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (78.6% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (66.6% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Washington’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Washington adults…

Washington runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.

14 of every 100 Washington adults have had cancer
California: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 12–15.1%
Better than CAWorseAbout the sameCalifornia
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Washington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.

79%Yearly checkupCA 72%
67%Dentist visitCA 63%
90%Cholesterol checkCA 85%
70%Colon screeningCA 58%
76%MammogramCA 76%
81%Taking BP medsCA 71%
1 in 19
working-age adults has no health insurance
Washington 5.3% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Getting care

Care in and near Washington

No hospital or community health center in Washington itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERSierra Nevada Memorial HospitalGrass Valley · 16.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbySierra Nevada Memorial Hospital★★★★★ · 16.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careWestern Sierra Medical ClinicNevada City · 13.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.2 mi
Western Sierra Medical Clinic
8 sites · nearest in Nevada City
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.4 mi
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
Grass Valley · ★★★★★
ER
31.6 mi
Tahoe Forest Hospital
Truckee · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
34.3 mi
Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
Auburn · ★★★★★
ER
35.2 mi
Eastern Plumas Hospital - Portola Campus
Portola · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careWashington is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careWashington is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Washington itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Washington; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with California

Share of adults, with the California figure marked.

Get no exercise 24.4%CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 30.3%CA 35.1%
Binge drink 13.8%CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettes 14.9%CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Washington, betterWashington, worseAbout the sameCalifornia
Where Washington gets moving

1.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Washington adults are doing

On 2 of 4 measures, Washington does better than California.

3 in 10Washington adults feel lonely
29% · CA 37.3% · Better than CA
1 in 5Washington adults lack social or emotional support
21.4% · CA 28.6% · Better than CA
1 in 4Washington adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.8% · CA 20.1% · About the same as CA
1 in 6Washington adults are in frequent mental distress
15.4% · CA 16.4% · About the same as CA
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Washington adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Washington adults worry about having enough food
12.2% · CA 17.9%
Better than CA
1 in 11
Washington adults worry about keeping their housing
8.9% · CA 14.9%
Better than CA
1 in 17
Washington adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6% · CA 7.3%
About the same as CA
1 in 14
Washington adults lack reliable transportation
6.9% · CA 9.3%
Better than CA

14.7% of Washington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.

Around town

Washington and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

37%

of Washington adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.6%
Thinking or memory13.5%
Hearing10.7%
Errands alone9.7%
Vision5.9%
Dressing or bathing5.1%
California

Questions about health in Washington

Why doesn’t Washington have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Washington.

What hospital is closest to Washington?

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, 16.4 miles in a straight line from Washington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Washington.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.