Photo: Publichall · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Washington, Ephrata is healthier than 13% of graded towns
Ephrata trails Washington on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ephrata. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ephrata
Dental care lags in Ephrata
56.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ephrata
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.7%), vs 10.2% across Washington. Utility shut-off threats (7.4% vs 5.1%) and no reliable transportation (9.8% vs 7.2%) are higher too. 18.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Ephrata adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (23.9%), vs 17.9% 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 Ephrata’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Ephrata’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ephrata is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns, #249 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 63% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Ephrata’s median household income is $69,551; among the 10,483 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ephrata 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.
18.7% of Ephrata adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
6.1 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Ephrata adults…
Ephrata runs above WA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ephrata
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ephrata, 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 Ephrata; ≈ 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 Ephrata adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Ephrata 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.
Ephrata and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ephrata | C+ | 39% | 11.2% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ephrata adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ephrata
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ephrata is better than Washington on 0 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Ephrata’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ephrata | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.3–24.8 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.5–17.2 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.8–21.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39%34.1–44.5 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.9 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%31–37.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%31.2–37.8 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%25.2–30.6 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.3–12.9 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7%6.1–8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%15–21 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11.6–15.8 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.9%20.6–27.9 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.4–21.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1%29.1–37.5 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%10.8–14.6 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.7%67.2–74.1 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.3%53.1–59.5 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.4%78.3–82.4 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.8%68.9–74.7 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.8%57.6–66.1 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67%60.1–73.7 | 74.2% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.7–29.1 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.6%26.4–32.8 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%13.2–16.3 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.7–14.7 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.9–10.7 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.7%16.9–20.5 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%30.7–38.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%12.7–16.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%15.6–19.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.3–10.6 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.9 | 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 Ephrata
Is Ephrata a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ephrata is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #249 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ephrata?
CDC estimates 39% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 44.5%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ephrata?
Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Ephrata’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ephrata have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–14.6%), 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 Ephrata more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ephrata.
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.