On CDC estimates, Big Lake is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Big Lake differs from Washington on 7 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Lake
Big Lake is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Big Lake’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Big Lake
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.9%), vs 7.9% across Washington. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.5%), vs 24.4% across Washington. Conditions ↓
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 Washington figure falls outside Big Lake’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Big Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Lake is healthier than 88% 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 97% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 71%.
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). Big Lake’s median household income is $109,286; among the 7,246 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($82K–$137K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Big Lake
No hospital or community health center in Big Lake 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 Big Lake; ≈ 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 Big Lake adults…
Big Lake runs above WA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Big Lake adults are doing
About the same as Washington 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9% of Big Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Big Lake and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake | A | 31.5% | 9.6% | 10% | CDC place |
| Mount Vernon | B | 34.6% | 11.2% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Big Lake adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Lake
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Lake is better than Washington on 5 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Big Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Lake | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.5%12.3–16.7 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.1–14.5 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.1–16.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.5%27–35.8 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.2–10.9 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%28.7–34.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31–37.6 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26.7–32.2 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.9–12.4 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–10.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.2–6.8 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%4.7–6.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.2%7.5–11.3 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8.2–12 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 15.5%12.9–18.3 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.2–19.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%26–34.1 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%5–7.4 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.2%68.9–75.2 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.1%66.1–72 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.3–88.5 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74%70.7–76.9 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69%64.9–72.8 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%67.9–80.1 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.5–28.6 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.7–29.7 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8%7–8.9 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%4–5.2 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%8–10.1 | 11% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.2%22.8–29.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.3%9.6–13.1 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.3–13.6 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.4–7.2 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.5 | 3.1% | 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 Washington figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Big Lake
Is Big Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Lake is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big Lake?
CDC estimates 31.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27% and 35.8%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Lake?
Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Big Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Big Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–7.4%), against 8.4% across Washington.
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 Big Lake 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 Big Lake.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Washington 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.