Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0Within Washington, Ellensburg is healthier than 46% of graded towns
Ellensburg differs from Washington on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ellensburg. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ellensburg
Washington sets a high bar
Ellensburg is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, but only 46% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ellensburg
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (13.5%), vs 10.2% across Washington. No reliable transportation (10.4% vs 7.2%) and utility shut-off threats (6.6% vs 5.1%) are higher too. 16.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Ellensburg is behind on routine checkups
It trails Washington on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (65.7% vs 70.7%), dentist visits (61.7% vs 67%) and cholesterol checks (74.1% vs 84%). Checkups ↓
Ellensburg is short on dental care and mental health care
Ellensburg’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Ellensburg is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ellensburg is healthier than 74%. Against the 7,545 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 97%. 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 Ellensburg’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Ellensburg’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ellensburg is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #153 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Ellensburg’s median household income is $55,438; among the 7,545 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.1% of Ellensburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ellensburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Care in and near Ellensburg
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Ellensburg adults…
Ellensburg runs below WA on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Ellensburg residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
7.8 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
How Ellensburg adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Ellensburg 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.
Ellensburg and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellensburg | B+ | 33.6% | 7.5% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ellensburg adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ellensburg
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ellensburg is better than Washington on 7 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Ellensburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ellensburg | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.8%14.8–19 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11.2–14 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.6–23.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%28.5–38.9 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.4%21.9–27.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.1%24.4–29.9 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.6%18.6–22.6 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–13 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.6–6.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5%4.5–5.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10.2–14.7 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.5%9.1–12.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19%16.1–22.3 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.5%16.5–22.8 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.8%26.4–35.4 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.8–10.9 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 65.7%61.5–69.6 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.7%58.5–64.9 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74.1%71.4–76.6 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 63.5%60.9–65.9 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%60.5–68.7 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%67–79.5 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.4%25–31.8 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%24–30.7 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.5%12.1–15.1 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.5–11.5 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.1%14.5–17.8 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.5%26.9–34.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.5–20.9 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.9–10.1 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 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 Ellensburg
Is Ellensburg a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ellensburg is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #153 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 97%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ellensburg?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 38.9%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ellensburg?
Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Ellensburg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ellensburg have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.9%), 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 Ellensburg more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ellensburg.
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.