Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Washington, Chelan is healthier than 22% of graded towns
Chelan differs from Washington on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chelan. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chelan
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Chelan
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.8%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.8%), vs 5.4% across Washington. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Chelan runs above Washington on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Washington sets a high bar
Chelan is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, but only 22% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Chelan is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Chelan’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 Chelan adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (22.9%), vs 17.9% across Washington. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Chelan, and more people treating it
35.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 75.1% 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 Chelan’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Chelan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chelan is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #223 of 285 in Washington. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 83% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 27%).
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). Chelan’s median household income is $82,637; among the 10,581 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 55%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Chelan adults…
Chelan runs above WA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Chelan
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Chelan, 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 Chelan; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
9.9 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Chelan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Chelan 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.
13.4% of Chelan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Chelan and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelan | B | 30% | 12.2% | 13.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chelan adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chelan
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chelan is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Chelan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chelan | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.4%18.8–24.2 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.8–17.5 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15–18.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30%25.3–35.3 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.7–13.9 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.5%32.1–39 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38%34.5–41.7 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.7%27.8–33.7 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.9–12.5 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–11 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.7 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.7–8.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.4–12.5 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%11.1–15.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.9%19.6–26.5 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.1–17.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.9%23.7–32.2 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%10.4–14.3 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.6%69.1–76 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.7%61.5–67.7 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.6–86.2 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.1%71.9–78.1 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%65.5–73.6 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.2%61.6–75.8 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%22.1–28.6 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%23.2–29.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%10.4–12.9 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.7%9.5–12 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%4.9–6.4 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.4%12–14.9 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.7%30–37.6 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.5–17.7 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%14.1–17.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.9–10 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 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 Chelan
Is Chelan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chelan is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #223 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 55%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chelan?
CDC estimates 30% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 35.3%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chelan?
Lake Chelan Community Hospital in Chelan, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Chelan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Chelan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–14.3%), 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 Chelan 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 Chelan.
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.