Where Bow residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bow, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bow. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bow
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Bow
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 7.9% across Washington. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.4%), vs 5.4% across Washington. Arthritis is also above the state: 32.7%, vs 24.4% across Washington. In all, Bow runs above Washington on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Bow is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Bow’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 ↓
More high blood pressure in Bow, and more people treating it
35.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 76.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Bow adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Washington. 1 in 15 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 10 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Bow’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Bow adults…
Bow runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Bow is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bow as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Bow
No hospital or community health center in Bow 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 Bow; ≈ 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 Bow adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.2% of Bow adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Bow adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Bow does better than Washington.
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.
Bow and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | — | — | — | — |
Edison: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bow adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Bow
Why doesn’t Bow have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Bow.
What hospital is closest to Bow?
Peacehealth United General Medical Center in Sedro Woolley, 7.5 miles in a straight line from Bow’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Bow?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Sea Mar CHC - Mt. Vernon E. College Way in Mount Vernon, 9.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bow.
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. 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.