Photo: Glenn Scofield Williams · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, The Dalles is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns
The Dalles trails Oregon on 10 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for The Dalles. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in The Dalles
Dental care lags in The Dalles
58.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.7% across Oregon. Among those 65 and older, 17.2% have lost all their teeth (Oregon 12.5%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in The Dalles
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6.8% across Oregon. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 3.3% across Oregon. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6.5% across Oregon. In all, The Dalles runs above Oregon on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
1 in 8 working-age adults in The Dalles has no health insurance
12.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.5% across Oregon. Checkups ↓
The Dalles has a top-rated hospital
Mid-Columbia Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Oregon figure falls outside The Dalles’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind The Dalles’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, The Dalles is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, #117 of 142 in Oregon. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 59% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). The Dalles’ median household income is $62,614; among the 9,529 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of The Dalles adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oregon.
Out of every 100 The Dalles adults…
The Dalles runs above OR on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near The Dalles
1 hospital and 1 community health center in The Dalles, 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 The Dalles; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Oregon
Share of adults, with the Oregon figure marked.
3.2 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How The Dalles adults are doing
About the same as Oregon 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.
The Dalles and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dalles | C | 38% | 13.2% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Chenoweth | C− | 39.5% | 14.1% | 16.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of The Dalles adults live with a disability (Oregon 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for The Dalles
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, The Dalles is better than Oregon on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Oregon figure falls inside The Dalles’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | The Dalles | OR | U.S. | vs OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.3%20.3–26.3 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.3 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.4–20.8 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%30–46.1 | 33.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.4–15.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%30.6–39 | 32.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%31–39.7 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3%26.9–33.8 | 27.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 11.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.7 | 6.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.7–9.8 | 6.8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.1–20.5 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.8%12.7–17.1 | 12% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.4%20.1–28.8 | 20.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.6–18.5 | 15.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.7%24.6–36.8 | 30.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%10.5–14 | 8.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.4%68.2–76.3 | 72.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%54.8–62.6 | 64.7% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%80–84 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.4%70.1–76.4 | 71.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.1%56.6–67 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%64.1–79.5 | 77.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%23–31 | 27.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%30.6–39.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.5–18.8 | 13% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.4–19.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 4.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.9–11.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 3.4% | 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 Oregon figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in The Dalles
Is The Dalles a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, The Dalles is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #117 of 142 in Oregon. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in The Dalles?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 30% and 46.1%, against 33.6% across Oregon and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to The Dalles?
Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, 1.0 miles in a straight line from The Dalles’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in The Dalles have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.5–14%), against 8.5% across Oregon.
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 The Dalles more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in The Dalles.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oregon 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.