Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Washington is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns
Washington differs from Pennsylvania on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Washington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Washington
Every town around Washington scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Washington’s D, from Canton Township (C+) to East Washington (A). Around town ↓
Washington is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Washington is healthier than 15%. Against the 6,778 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 31%. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Washington
56.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.4% across Pennsylvania. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Pennsylvania 14.5%). Checkups ↓
More Washington adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.8%), vs 23.8% across Pennsylvania. Habits ↓
Washington has a top-rated hospital
The Washington Hospital 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 Pennsylvania figure falls outside Washington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Washington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Washington is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, #970 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 46% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Washington’s median household income is $52,975; among the 6,778 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Washington and the towns around it
Washington’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | D | 42.3% | 12.3% | 20.9% | CDC place |
| South Strabane Township | C+ | 38.7% | 11.9% | 17.3% | ZIP codes |
| North Franklin Township · Canton Township | C+ | 38.9% | 12% | 17.7% | ZIP 15301 |
| East Washington | A | 33.9% | 8.8% | 10.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of Washington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Washington
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Washington, 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 Washington; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Washington adults…
Washington runs below PA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
How Washington adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Washington runs above Pennsylvania.
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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Washington adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Washington
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Washington is better than Pennsylvania on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Washington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Washington | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%21.4–26.4 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.6–22.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.3%35.6–49.7 | 33.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.7–14.1 | 11.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.4%32.8–40.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.9%28.2–35.9 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29.2–36.2 | 30.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.8–13.9 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 7.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.4%8.5–10.5 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.7–21.4 | 14.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.9%18.5–23.6 | 15.8% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.8%25.7–34.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.4–22.4 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%35.6–48.4 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%74.9–82 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.7%52.9–60.5 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.8%76.8–82.7 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.6–80.3 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.5%59.7–69.4 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%69.8–83.2 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.9–29.4 | 23% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33.8–42.5 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%15.2–19 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%17–21 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.9 | 7.6% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.3–7.5 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%10.1–12.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 3.7% | 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 Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Washington
Is Washington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Washington is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: D for health, #970 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Washington?
CDC estimates 42.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.6% and 49.7%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Washington?
The Washington Hospital in Washington, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Washington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Washington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–10.2%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
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 Washington 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 Washington.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania 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.