Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Ridgway is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Ridgway differs from Colorado on 6 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ridgway. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ridgway
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Ridgway
The closest emergency room is Montrose Regional Health in Montrose, 23.2 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Ridgway
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 7.8% across Colorado. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (27.2%), vs 22.9% across Colorado. Conditions ↓
Nearly everyone in Ridgway is insured
Only 6.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.1% across Colorado. 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 Colorado figure falls outside Ridgway’s likely range.
What’s behind Ridgway’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgway is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 98% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 86%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Ridgway’s median household income is $83,750; among the 10,489 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$105K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Ridgway
No hospital or community health center in Ridgway itself. These are the nearest.
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 Ridgway; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Ridgway adults…
Ridgway runs below CO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ridgway adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Ridgway adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Ridgway and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgway | A | 24.2% | 8.7% | 10% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ridgway adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ridgway
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ridgway is better than Colorado on 4 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Ridgway’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ridgway | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.1%10.6–16.1 | 15.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%9.7–13.6 | 11.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.2–16.6 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.2%17.8–31.7 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.7%7.2–10.4 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.6%25.4–34.2 | 27% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%30.7–39.7 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.2%23.6–31.1 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9–11.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.6–6.4 | 5.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.5%4.3–6.9 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.3 | 2.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.5–8.5 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%7.4–12.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 14.6%11.1–18.5 | 17.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14–20.4 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.2%21–33.5 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%4.8–8.2 | 11.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%70.9–78.6 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.2%68.9–75.3 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.4%87.8–91 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%69.4–77 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.5–70.5 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.1%64.2–80.4 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.3–26.9 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.9%19.5–28.6 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.9%7.9–12.2 | 10.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.3%9.3–13.5 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.4–7.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%2.8–3.9 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%4.7–6.9 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.2–3.2 | 2.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ridgway
Is Ridgway a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgway is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ridgway?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 17.8% and 31.7%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ridgway?
Montrose Regional Health in Montrose, 23.2 miles in a straight line from Ridgway’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ridgway have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.8–8.2%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Ridgway more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ridgway.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.