Photo: Sam Beebe/Ecotrust · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ilwaco is healthier than 31%
Ilwaco differs from Washington on 17 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ilwaco. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ilwaco
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Ilwaco
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.7%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (8%), vs 5.4% across Washington. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Ilwaco runs above Washington on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
In Ilwaco, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 7.6% of working-age adults are uninsured (Washington 8.4%), yet 20.4% say their health is fair or poor, vs 16.3% across the state. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Ilwaco, and more people treating it
39.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 77.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Ilwaco’s lead shrinks
Ilwaco is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns, but 31% of the 8,838 towns with similar household incomes ($74K–$123K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. 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 Ilwaco’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Ilwaco’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ilwaco is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 81% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Ilwaco’s median household income is $98,200; among the 8,838 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 31%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Ilwaco adults…
Ilwaco runs above WA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Ilwaco is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Ilwaco as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ilwaco adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Care in and near Ilwaco
1 hospital in Ilwaco, 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 Ilwaco; ≈ 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.
2.3 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Ilwaco 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.
11.8% of Ilwaco adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Ilwaco and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilwaco | B− | 36.4% | 13.4% | 12.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ilwaco adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ilwaco
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ilwaco is better than Washington on 3 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Ilwaco’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ilwaco | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%17.7–23.4 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.5–17.3 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.8–18.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.4%31.1–42.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.8–15.5 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.2%35.7–43.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%36.9–44.6 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.4%31.2–37.9 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.2%10.2–12.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.7%6.6–8.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9.1–13.4 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%10.6–15.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 20.5%17.2–24.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.2–17.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35%29.9–40.5 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%6.3–9.3 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.3%69.7–76.9 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.9%57.5–64.3 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.4–87.8 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.5–80.3 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.3%61.6–70.8 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%66.8–80.1 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%22.9–29.7 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.9–28.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.5%8.4–10.6 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%6.1–7.5 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.8%10.5–13.1 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%29.3–37.2 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%13.6–18.2 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–10.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.4–5.7 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 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 Ilwaco
Is Ilwaco a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ilwaco is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ilwaco?
CDC estimates 36.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 42.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ilwaco?
Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Ilwaco’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ilwaco have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–9.3%), 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 Ilwaco 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 Ilwaco.
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.