Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Washington, Lynden is healthier than 50% of graded towns
Lynden differs from Washington on 9 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lynden. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lynden
Lynden is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Lynden’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 ↓
Washington sets a high bar
Lynden is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, but only 50% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
The nearest ER is 32 miles from Lynden
The closest emergency room is Island Hospital in Anacortes, 31.7 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Sea Mar Community Health Centers is closer (4.1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Cancer, COPD and stroke run high in Lynden
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 7.9% across Washington. 1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.2%), vs 5.1% across Washington. Stroke is also above the state: 3.5%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Lynden runs above Washington on five of 11 chronic conditions. 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 Lynden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Lynden’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lynden is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #142 of 285 in Washington. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 92% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Lynden’s median household income is $103,233; among the 8,092 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($77K–$129K), it’s healthier than 63%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Lynden
No hospital or community health center in Lynden 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 Lynden; ≈ 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 Lynden adults…
Lynden runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
2 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lynden adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Lynden adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Lynden 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.7% of Lynden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Lynden and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynden | A− | 26.9% | 9.4% | 11.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lynden adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lynden
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lynden is better than Washington on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Lynden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lynden | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.8%15.7–20 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.5–15.6 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%16–19.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.9%23.4–30.5 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.7%28.1–33.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.8%32.1–37.6 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.1%24.8–29.4 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.7–11.9 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%9–10.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.2%5.4–7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.1%8.3–12.1 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%10.1–13.5 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%16.2–21.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.7–19.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.9%26.4–33.4 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.7–10.8 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.4%68.5–74.2 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.4%61.5–67.2 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.8–85.5 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.9%71.1–76.5 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%62.6–69.8 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%69.9–80.6 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.1%26.3–32 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.5%23.9–29.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%4.4–5.6 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.7%9.7–12 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%28.9–35.1 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.2–14.5 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.6–16.9 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.1–9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 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 Lynden
Is Lynden a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lynden is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #142 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 63%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lynden?
CDC estimates 26.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 30.5%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Lynden have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–10.8%), 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 Lynden 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 Lynden.
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.