Photo: Sam Beebe · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Goldendale is healthier than 94%
Goldendale differs from Washington on 18 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Goldendale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Goldendale
Dental care lags in Goldendale
57.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 17.6% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Goldendale’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Goldendale
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.7%), vs 5.4% across Washington. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Goldendale runs above Washington on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Goldendale is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Goldendale’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Goldendale is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Goldendale is healthier than 49%. Against the 2,323 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 94%. 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 Goldendale’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Goldendale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goldendale is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #240 of 285 in Washington. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 72% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Goldendale’s median household income is $39,783; among the 2,323 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Washington towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Goldendale is healthier than 16% of graded towns, against 48% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Goldendale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Out of every 100 Goldendale adults…
Goldendale runs above WA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Goldendale
No hospital or community health center in Goldendale 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 Goldendale; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Goldendale adults are doing
About the same as Washington on each measure.
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.
17.3% of Goldendale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Goldendale and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldendale | B− | 33.9% | 11.8% | 14.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Goldendale adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Goldendale
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Goldendale is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Goldendale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Goldendale | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.1–24.2 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14–18 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.4–20.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%28.8–39.5 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.2–13.5 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%30.2–37 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%31.9–38.9 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.9–33.8 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.8–13.6 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%6.9–9.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.6 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.6%14.6–21 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%11.9–16.5 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%18.7–26.3 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13.3–18.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2%29.1–39.5 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8–11.5 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.9%66.3–73.4 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.4%53.9–60.9 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%79.7–84.1 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72.5–78.1 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59.2–68.8 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.4%60.8–75.7 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%22.8–29.6 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.5–30.3 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.4%12–15 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%6–7.7 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.1%8.3–10 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.3%15.5–19.2 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29.2–37.6 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%13.4–17.8 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.6–18.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.2–10.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5.1 | 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 Goldendale
Is Goldendale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goldendale is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #240 of 285 in Washington. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Goldendale?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 39.5%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Goldendale?
Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Goldendale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Goldendale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–11.5%), 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 Goldendale 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 Goldendale.
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.