Pickering Farm · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Issaquah is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Issaquah differs from Washington on 26 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 25 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Issaquah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Issaquah
COPD and obesity are less common in Issaquah
Issaquah runs below Washington on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (2.9% vs 5.1%), obesity (20.4% vs 30.6%) and diabetes (6.4% vs 9.5%). Conditions ↓
Issaquah is an active town
Only 11.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.9% across Washington. The town has 36 miles of trails across 46 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Few Issaquah adults smoke
5.7% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 10.1% across Washington. Habits ↓
Issaquah has a top-rated hospital
Swedish Issaquah is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Issaquah’s likely range.
What’s behind Issaquah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Issaquah is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #9 of 285 in Washington. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 94%.
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). Issaquah’s median household income is $154,669; among the 2,467 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($116K–$193K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Issaquah adults…
Issaquah runs below WA on 10 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.
36 miles of trails across 46 parks and preserves
Care in and near Issaquah
1 hospital in Issaquah, 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 Issaquah; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Issaquah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Issaquah adults are doing
On 3 of 3 measures, Issaquah does better than 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.
5.4% of Issaquah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Issaquah and the towns around it
Issaquah’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Issaquah adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Issaquah
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Issaquah is better than Washington on 25 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Issaquah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Issaquah | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.7%7.9–9.5 | 12.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%12.2–14.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 20.4%18.5–22.4 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.4%5.8–7 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.2%23.7–26.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34%32.2–35.8 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.3%18.1–20.5 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.6–10.2 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%7–8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%1.9–2.2 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.8%4–5.6 | 9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 5.7%5–6.5 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 11.7%10.6–13 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%15.6–18.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.2%26.1–30.3 | 31.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5%4.4–5.6 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.2%69.3–73.2 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.9%72.2–75.5 | 67% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%86.8–89 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.4%66.3–70.5 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.8%62.5–66.9 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.7%75.5–81.6 | 74.2% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%21.4–24.7 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%24.2–27.6 | 28% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 11% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 18.5%17.1–20 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.4%5.7–7.1 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 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 Issaquah
Is Issaquah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Issaquah is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #9 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Issaquah?
CDC estimates 20.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.5% and 22.4%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Issaquah?
Swedish Issaquah in Issaquah, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Issaquah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Issaquah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–5.6%), 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 Issaquah more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Issaquah.
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.