Photo: User:MrX · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Kittitas is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Kittitas differs from Washington on 4 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kittitas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kittitas
What’s behind Kittitas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kittitas is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 94% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
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). Kittitas’ median household income is $80,278; among the 10,743 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Kittitas
No hospital or community health center in Kittitas 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 Kittitas; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Kittitas adults…
Kittitas runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Kittitas residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kittitas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Kittitas 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.
12.3% of Kittitas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Kittitas and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kittitas | A− | 34% | 8.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kittitas adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kittitas
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kittitas is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Kittitas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kittitas | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.3%12.9–17.8 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.8–14.2 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.1–19.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%28.6–39.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.5%7.3–9.7 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 27.5%24.5–30.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.9%27.7–34.3 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.4%21.8–26.9 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.1 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.9%4.1–5.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–3 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.4–16.6 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%8–12.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18%14.9–21.6 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.3%16.3–22.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.1%25.8–34.7 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.4–11.3 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.2%64.4–71.9 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65%61.8–68 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.2%79.9–84.2 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.5%65.3–71.5 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%62.3–70.9 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%67.1–79.9 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22.1–28.7 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.4%24.1–30.9 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%10.4–13 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%5–6.5 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%10.9–13.7 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.2%23.5–31.3 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%8.6–12 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.6%12.6–16.9 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.4–4.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Kittitas
Is Kittitas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kittitas is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kittitas?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 39.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kittitas?
Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg, 5.6 miles in a straight line from Kittitas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Kittitas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–11.3%), 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 Kittitas more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kittitas.
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.