On CDC estimates, Chico is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Chico differs from Washington on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chico. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chico
Against towns with similar incomes, Chico’s lead shrinks
Chico is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, but 65% of the 3,517 towns with similar household incomes ($105K–$176K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Chico
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 7.9% across Washington. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28.5%), vs 24.4% across Washington. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Chico, and more people treating it
34.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 75% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Chico keeps up with checkups
It beats Washington on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (74.4% vs 70.7%) and dentist visits (70.7% vs 67%). 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 Chico’s likely range.
What’s behind Chico’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chico is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #60 of 285 in Washington. 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 diabetes, still better than 78%.
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). Chico’s median household income is $140,500; among the 3,517 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($105K–$176K), it’s healthier than 65%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chico adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Out of every 100 Chico adults…
Chico runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Chico
No hospital or community health center in Chico 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 Chico; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Chico adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Chico 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Chico adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Chico and the towns around it
Chico has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | A | 30.7% | 10.2% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Kitsap Lake | B+ | 34% | 9.7% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Erlands Point | — | — | — | — | |
| Silverdale | A | 30.3% | 9.1% | 9.7% | CDC place |
Erlands Point: 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 Chico adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chico
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chico is better than Washington on 13 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Chico’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chico | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.6%11.7–15.6 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13–16.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.7%27–34.5 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%31.8–37.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%33.3–39 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%26–30.9 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.2 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.5–11.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.3–6.8 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5%4.3–5.8 | 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+) | 6.4%5.1–7.8 | 9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%7.6–10.8 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 15.4%13–17.8 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.5%29.1–36 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.4%4.5–6.4 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.4%71.7–77.1 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.7%68–73.1 | 67% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.9–88.9 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%72.1–77.6 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.2%67.9–74.2 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.2%67.3–78.1 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%21.3–26.4 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%24.9–30.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 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 | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 11% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25%22.1–28 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9.5–12.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.6%10.1–13.1 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.2 | 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 Chico
Is Chico a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chico is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #60 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 65%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chico?
CDC estimates 30.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 27% and 34.5%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chico?
Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, 18.2 miles in a straight line from Chico’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Chico have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–6.4%), 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 Chico more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chico.
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.