Region Six Personnel Training Station · Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Carson is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns
Carson differs from Washington on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carson
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Carson
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.3%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 2.9% across Washington. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.6%, vs 5.4% across Washington. In all, Carson runs above Washington on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Carson is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Carson’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 ↓
Dental care lags in Carson
59.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 11.7% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Carson’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Carson, and more people treating it
36.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 74.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Carson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Carson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carson is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 72% 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). Carson’s median household income is $68,929; among the 10,451 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Carson adults…
Carson runs above WA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Carson is an older town: 27% 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 Carson as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Carson
No hospital or community health center in Carson 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 Carson; ≈ 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 Carson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Carson adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Carson runs above 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.6% of Carson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Carson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson | C+ | 35.1% | 11.9% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carson adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carson
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carson is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Carson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carson | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%18.6–24.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.4 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.6–20.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%29.1–41.5 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.3–13.6 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.1%32.4–39.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%32.4–40.1 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.9%27.9–34.2 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%11.1–13.9 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.7–8.4 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.5–14.3 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%12.8–18 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.3%18.6–26.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.5–19.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%28.7–39.7 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%7.5–11.6 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.5%67.6–75.3 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.6%56–63.2 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.5%80.2–84.6 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%70.8–77.1 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%59.8–69.4 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.9%61.2–76 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.4%23.9–31.2 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.6%25.1–32.3 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.4–7 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%13–16.3 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4%31.2–40 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14–18.7 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%14.9–19.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5–6.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 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 Carson
Is Carson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carson is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 53%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carson?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 41.5%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carson?
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, 14.8 miles in a straight line from Carson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.6%), 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 Carson 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 Carson.
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.