Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Washington, Elma is healthier than 10% of graded towns
Elma trails Washington on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elma. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elma
Dental care lags in Elma
59.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 18.8% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Elma’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Elma
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.6%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 15 adults have heart disease (6.8%), vs 5.4% across Washington. Stroke is also above the state: 3.6%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Elma runs above Washington on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Elma
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.6%), vs 10.1% across Washington. Habits ↓
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 Elma’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Elma’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elma is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #257 of 285 in Washington. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 66% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Elma’s median household income is $78,086; among the 10,822 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Elma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Out of every 100 Elma adults…
Elma runs above WA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Elma
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Elma, 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 Elma; ≈ 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).
How Elma adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Elma 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.
15.7% of Elma adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Elma and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elma adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elma
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elma is better than Washington on 0 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Elma’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elma | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%18.6–25 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.7–17.7 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.1–22.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%30.8–41.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10.1–13.4 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%31.3–38.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32.6–39.5 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6%24.8–30.4 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6–7.7 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.5–8.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–4.1 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.8%15.7–22.2 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.1–18.3 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%19.6–27.2 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.1–19.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%34.9–44.7 | 31.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%8.7–13 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.2%63–70.9 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.6%56.3–62.9 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.4%77.7–82.8 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.9%67.7–73.8 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%58.4–67.2 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.1%66.1–79.1 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29%25.3–32.6 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.3%26–32.8 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13%11.6–14.5 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%8–9.7 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%14–17.4 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.5–39.3 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.8–17.2 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%15.9–20.6 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–8.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 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 Elma
Is Elma a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elma is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #257 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elma?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 41.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elma?
Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Elma’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elma have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–13%), 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 Elma 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 Elma.
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.