Photo: Jake_T53 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Darrington is healthier than 76%
Darrington trails Washington on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Darrington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Darrington
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Darrington
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.3%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 27 adults have had a stroke (3.7%), vs 2.9% across Washington. Heart disease is also above the state: 6.7%, vs 5.4% across Washington. In all, Darrington runs above Washington on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Darrington
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (28.7%), vs 25.1% across Washington. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.3%, vs 16.4% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Darrington
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (13.7%), vs 10.1% across Washington. Habits ↓
Darrington is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Darrington is healthier than 57%. Against the 10,144 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 76%. Health Grade ↓
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 Darrington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Darrington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darrington is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 81% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Darrington’s median household income is $66,488; among the 10,144 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 76%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Darrington adults…
Darrington runs above WA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Darrington is an older town: 25% 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 Darrington as about how healthy they are.
How Darrington adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Darrington 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Darrington
No hospital or community health center in Darrington 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 Darrington; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Darrington 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.
13.2% of Darrington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Darrington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darrington | B | 34.1% | 10.6% | 13.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Darrington adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Darrington
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Darrington is better than Washington on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Darrington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Darrington | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.5%16.7–22.5 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.4–17.2 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.5–20.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%31.1–37.3 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%31.9–36.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%35.6–40 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 29.4%27.4–31.5 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.5–13.9 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.7 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.3%6.1–8.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.1 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.7%9–12.5 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.4–16.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 20.6%17.6–23.6 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%14.4–17.8 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5%30.8–36.2 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.6–10.6 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.2%69.8–74.4 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.8%61.4–66 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%81.3–85.5 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.1%70.7–75.4 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%62.8–68.1 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.6%67.2–75.6 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.7%26.4–31.1 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.6%25.4–29.8 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%9–11.1 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%5–6.4 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.4–8.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.2%12–14.5 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.4%28.8–35.7 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%12.3–16.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.7–17.9 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.3–10 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.4–4.7 | 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 Darrington
Is Darrington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Darrington is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Darrington?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 37.3%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Darrington?
Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington, 24.0 miles in a straight line from Darrington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Darrington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–10.6%), 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 Darrington 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 Darrington.
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.