Photo: Adolphus79 · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Washburn is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Washburn trails Maine on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04786. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Washburn
More Washburn adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.7%), vs 23.1% across Maine. There are 11 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
COPD, diabetes and obesity run high in Washburn
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.8%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 7 adults have diabetes (14.2%), vs 11.2% across Maine. Obesity is also above the state: 40.1%, vs 32.7% across Maine. In all, Washburn runs above Maine on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Washburn
57.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.8% across Maine. Among those 65 and older, 20.1% have lost all their teeth (Maine 14.8%). 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 Maine figure falls outside Washburn’s likely range; Washburn’s figures come from ZIP code 04786, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Washburn’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Washburn is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 22% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Washburn’s median household income is $56,196; among the 7,788 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 24%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Washburn adults…
Washburn runs above ME on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Washburn adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Care in and near Washburn
No hospital or community health center in Washburn 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 Washburn; ≈ 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).
How Washburn adults are doing
About the same as Maine on each measure.
1 in 3 Washburn 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.
20.1% of Washburn adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Washburn and the towns around it
Washburn’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Washburn adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Washburn
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Washburn is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Washburn’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Washburn | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%20.6–26.7 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.4–19.4 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.8–21 | 17.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%35.4–45.1 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.5–16 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%39–45.4 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%37.4–43.9 | 37.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.7%32.9–38.7 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.5%12.1–15.1 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%8.1–10.1 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.8%9.4–12.4 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.1%16.9–23.6 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.4%15.7–21.4 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%28–36 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.2–15.6 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%32.1–40.6 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.5–11.4 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82%79.4–84.4 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.3%54–60.4 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.4–88.2 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.7–80.8 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%66–73.6 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%71.5–82.4 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%23.1–29.2 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%30.4–38.1 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.1–28.8 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%11.3–16.3 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%9.8–13.6 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.6–10.3 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.6–10.1 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.1%16.8–23.4 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.1%34.4–42.2 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.1%15.9–20.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.3–19.7 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.9–11.1 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.3 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.9–5.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Washburn
Is Washburn a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Washburn is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Washburn?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 45.1%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Washburn?
Cary Medical Center in Caribou, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Washburn’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Washburn have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.4%), against 7.8% across Maine.
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 Washburn more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Washburn.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine 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.