Photo: Michael Barratt · Public domainWithin Washington, Ocean Shores is healthier than 15% of graded towns
Ocean Shores differs from Washington on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ocean Shores. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ocean Shores
Heart disease, COPD and cancer run high in Ocean Shores
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.1%), about twice the Washington rate. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 5.1% across Washington. Cancer is also above the state: 14%, vs 7.9% across Washington. In all, Ocean Shores runs above Washington on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 47% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%), and heart disease, COPD and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ocean Shores, and more people treating it
46.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Dental care lags in Ocean Shores
61.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 11.9% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Ocean Shores’ county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 25 miles from Ocean Shores
The closest emergency room is Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, 24.9 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Sea Mar Community Health Centers is closer (2.4 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Ocean Shores is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ocean Shores is healthier than 48%. Against the 8,408 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 76%. 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 Ocean Shores’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Ocean Shores’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ocean Shores is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #242 of 285 in Washington. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 80% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Ocean Shores’ median household income is $58,202; among the 8,408 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 76%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Ocean Shores compares well: binge drinking, 11.9% (U.S. 15.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 90.2% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Ocean Shores adults…
Ocean Shores runs above WA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Ocean Shores is an older town: 47% 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 Ocean Shores as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ocean Shores adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Care in and near Ocean Shores
1 community health center in Ocean Shores, 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 Ocean Shores; ≈ 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.
9.6 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
How Ocean Shores 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.
11.2% of Ocean Shores adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Ocean Shores and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Shores | B− | 35.5% | 16.1% | 12.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ocean Shores adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ocean Shores
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ocean Shores is better than Washington on 7 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Ocean Shores’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ocean Shores | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.1%17.5–24.8 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.1–19.1 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13–17 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%30.2–41.1 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%13.8–18.5 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.7%42.4–50.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.8%41.6–49.7 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39.9%35.9–43.6 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14%12.7–15.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%8.7–11.5 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%7.5–11.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.3–5.7 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.8–14.2 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%10.1–15.5 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.9%18.5–27.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.7–14.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%31.9–41.4 | 31.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.2–8.4 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.4%74.1–80.5 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%58.1–64.6 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.2%88.7–91.6 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.1–84 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.8%70.8–78.3 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%69.1–81.2 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.5–28.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%22.4–28.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.2%8.2–10.3 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.9%7–8.9 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36%30.8–40.7 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%15.4–22 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%11.1–15.1 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.4–6.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%6.9–9.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 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 Ocean Shores
Is Ocean Shores a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ocean Shores is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #242 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 76%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ocean Shores?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 41.1%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ocean Shores?
Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, 24.9 miles in a straight line from Ocean Shores’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ocean Shores have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8.4%), 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 Ocean Shores more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ocean Shores.
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.