Moscow Downtown Historic District · Photo: Candy29c · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Moscow is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Moscow differs from Idaho on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Moscow. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Moscow
Moscow is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Moscow is healthier than 84%. Against the 8,036 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 99%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Moscow doesn’t win on
18.8% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across Idaho, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Moscow
Moscow runs below Idaho on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (6.3% vs 10.1%), heart disease (4% vs 6.2%) and stroke (2.2% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Idaho 17%). Conditions ↓
Moscow is an active town
Only 17.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 22.2% across Idaho. Habits ↓
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 Idaho figure falls outside Moscow’s likely range.
What’s behind Moscow’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Moscow is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #14 of 59 in Idaho. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Moscow’s median household income is $57,022; among the 8,036 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Idaho
Share of adults, with the Idaho figure marked.
7.2 miles of trails across 20 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Moscow adults…
Moscow runs below ID on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Moscow residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Idaho. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Moscow
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Moscow, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Moscow; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Moscow adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Idaho.
How Moscow adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Moscow runs above Idaho.
1 in 3 Moscow adults feel lonely. 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.3% of Moscow adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.8% across Idaho.
Moscow and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | A− | 28.5% | 6.3% | 9.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Moscow adults live with a disability (Idaho 34.7%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Moscow
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Moscow is better than Idaho on 14 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Idaho figure falls inside Moscow’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Moscow | ID | U.S. | vs ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.1%13.1–17.3 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 13.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.8–21.2 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.5%23.8–33.5 | 32.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.3%5.5–7.3 | 10.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24%21.3–26.8 | 31.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.6%22.7–28.5 | 33.2% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 18.6%16.6–20.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.4 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.6%5–6.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4%3.6–4.5 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.5–13 | 16.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.7%8.2–11.4 | 12% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.5%14.7–20.8 | 22.2% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.9–21.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.4%24.4–34.4 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.6–10.6 | 10.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.8%65.9–73.5 | 74.3% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66%62.5–69.3 | 66.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 71.7%68.9–74.4 | 81.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 62.3%59.6–64.9 | 70.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.3%57.1–66.9 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%67.4–81.3 | 69.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.6–28.2 | 23.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%28.4–37 | 29.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.6%17.8–23.9 | 19.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.5%11.4–15.9 | 12.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.4%8.8–12.2 | 10.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.1–8.3 | 6.6% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.3%7.7–11.1 | 8.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%27.4–35.1 | 34.7% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 14.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.8–20.2 | 16% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 9.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Idaho figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Moscow
Is Moscow a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Moscow is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #14 of 59 in Idaho. 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 Moscow?
CDC estimates 28.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.8% and 33.5%, against 32.1% across Idaho and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Moscow?
Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, 0.1 miles in a straight line from Moscow’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Moscow have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–10.6%), against 10.7% across Idaho.
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 Moscow more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Moscow.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Idaho 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.