Photo: SpokaneWilly · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Mead is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
Mead differs from Washington on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mead. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mead
What’s behind Mead’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mead is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns, #129 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 91% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 65%.
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). Mead’s median household income is $77,045; among the 10,819 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Most Washington towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Mead is healthier than 55% of graded towns, against 77% nationally.
Out of every 100 Mead adults…
Mead runs above WA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Mead
No hospital or community health center in Mead 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 Mead; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Mead adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Mead 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.
10% of Mead adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Mead and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mead | A− | 34% | 10.5% | 11.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mead adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mead
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mead is better than Washington on 6 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Mead’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mead | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%14.8–18.6 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.7–14.6 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.6–17.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%30.6–37.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%30.2–35 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%34.3–39.4 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%26.5–30.9 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.5–12.8 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.8–10.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.6 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.6–11 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.6–12.9 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18%15.7–20.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%15.1–19.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%28.7–34.7 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%5–7.1 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.8%72.4–77.3 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.7%66.2–71 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.5–87.6 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72%69.2–74.7 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.4%66.1–72.3 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%73.1–81.9 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%23.5–28.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%23.8–28.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%7.7–9.5 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%9.1–11.1 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%25.2–30.5 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12%10.5–13.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.9–15 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3–3.8 | 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 Mead
Is Mead a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mead is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #129 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mead?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.6% and 37.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mead?
Providence Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, 5.5 miles in a straight line from Mead’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mead have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–7.1%), 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 Mead 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 Mead.
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.