Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Washington, Burlington is healthier than 35% of graded towns
Burlington differs from Washington on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Burlington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Burlington
Dental care lags in Burlington
59.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 13.5% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Burlington’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Washington sets a high bar
Burlington is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, but only 35% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Burlington is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Burlington’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 ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Burlington
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.6%), vs 10.2% across Washington. No reliable transportation (10% vs 7.2%) and housing insecurity (13.7% vs 9.9%) are higher too. 16% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% 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 Burlington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Burlington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Burlington is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, #186 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 81% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Burlington’s median household income is $80,475; among the 10,723 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$101K), it’s healthier than 71%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Burlington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Care in and near Burlington
No hospital or community health center in Burlington 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 Burlington; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16% of Burlington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Out of every 100 Burlington adults…
Burlington runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
1.4 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Burlington 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.
Burlington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | B | 33.6% | 10% | 11.9% | 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 Burlington adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Burlington
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Burlington is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Burlington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Burlington | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%17.2–22.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.3 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.7–19.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%29.1–38.1 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.8–11.3 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30%27.3–32.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.2%28.2–34.1 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.3%24–28.5 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.9–12.4 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.1%5.3–7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%11.1–16.3 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%10.2–13.7 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.8%18.7–25.1 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.2–19.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.2%28.1–36.5 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.7%11.6–15.7 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.7%64.1–70.8 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.1%55.8–62.2 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.5%78.3–82.5 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.9%67.9–73.6 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%57.7–66 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%68.6–80.8 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22.8–28.9 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.1%27.7–34.3 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.6%13–16 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.7%12.1–15.2 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6–7.7 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%9–10.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16%14.3–17.6 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.5%29–36 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.7%11.8–15.4 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.5–18.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–8.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.6–9.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.1% | 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 Washington figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Burlington
Is Burlington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Burlington is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #186 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 71%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Burlington?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 38.1%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Burlington?
Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Burlington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Burlington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–15.7%), 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 Burlington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Burlington.
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.