Photo: Senior Airman Mary O'Dell · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Fairchild AFB is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Fairchild AFB differs from Washington on 24 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fairchild AFB. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fairchild AFB
Binge drinking is the habit Fairchild AFB doesn’t win on
25.5% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Washington, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Mental distress runs high in Fairchild AFB
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (22%), vs 16.4% across Washington. Depression is above the state too: 28.5%, vs 25.1% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Fairchild AFB
Fairchild AFB runs below Washington on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (1.6% vs 7.9%), heart disease (1.2% vs 5.4%) and stroke (0.8% vs 2.9%). A young population is part of it: only 0% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Fairchild AFB’s likely range.
What’s behind Fairchild AFB’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairchild AFB is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #80 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Fairchild AFB’s median household income is $69,917; among the 10,526 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
1.9 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Fairchild AFB adults…
Fairchild AFB runs below WA on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 0% of Fairchild AFB residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
How Fairchild AFB adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Fairchild AFB 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.
Care in and near Fairchild AFB
No hospital or community health center in Fairchild AFB 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 Fairchild AFB; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Fairchild AFB 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.
12.5% of Fairchild AFB adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Fairchild AFB and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairchild AFB | A | 29.9% | 2.7% | 8.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fairchild AFB adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fairchild AFB
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fairchild AFB is better than Washington on 12 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Fairchild AFB’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fairchild AFB | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.4%10.6–14.4 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 12.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22%19.3–24.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.9%26.7–33.3 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 2.7%2.4–3 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 12.7%11.3–14.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 16.5%14.9–18.1 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.3 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 1.6%1.4–1.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 1.2%1.1–1.4 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2%1.7–2.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 0.8%0.7–0.9 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.8–14.1 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.3%6.7–10 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.9%11.7–16.5 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 25.5%22.8–28.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%31.3–37.5 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.5–11.5 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 60.8%57.4–64.1 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.8%59–64.4 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 68%64.2–71.8 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 29.3%26.7–32.1 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 51.9%48.5–55.3 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.7%72.7–81.8 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%25.8–31.2 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.2%27.7–32.9 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.2%11–13.5 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.7%8.9–10.6 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.5%11.3–13.7 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24%20.7–27.3 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 3.5%3–4.1 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%15.6–21.1 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 2.7%2.4–3.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.5%1.3–1.7 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Fairchild AFB
Is Fairchild AFB a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fairchild AFB is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #80 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fairchild AFB?
CDC estimates 29.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.7% and 33.3%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fairchild AFB?
Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Fairchild AFB’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fairchild AFB have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.5%), 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 Fairchild AFB 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 Fairchild AFB.
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.