Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Washington, Parkland is healthier than 11% of graded towns
Parkland differs from Washington on 22 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Parkland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Parkland
Making ends meet is harder in Parkland
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.7%), vs 10.2% across Washington. Utility shut-off threats (8.6% vs 5.1%) and housing insecurity (16.1% vs 9.9%) are higher too. 19.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Parkland
57.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 14.2% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Checkups ↓
Mental distress runs high in Parkland
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.6%), vs 16.4% across Washington. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 33%, vs 28% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
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 Parkland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Parkland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parkland is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns, #253 of 285 in Washington. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 69% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Parkland’s median household income is $72,239; among the 10,689 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Parkland compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.5% of Parkland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Keeping up with care
Share of Parkland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Parkland adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Parkland 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.
Out of every 100 Parkland adults…
Parkland runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Parkland
1 community health center in Parkland, 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 Parkland; ≈ 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.
5.5 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Parkland and the towns around it
Parkland’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 8 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkland | C+ | 39.3% | 11.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| McChord AFB | A− | 34.4% | 3.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Clover Creek | C+ | 38.8% | 12.2% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Tacoma | B | 37.3% | 10.9% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Lakewood | C+ | 39% | 12.7% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| Spanaway | C+ | 39.5% | 11.5% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| Midland | C+ | 38.7% | 12.3% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Frederickson | B | 37.7% | 9.5% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Parkland adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Parkland
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Parkland is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Parkland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Parkland | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%19.1–22.6 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.8–16.5 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%19–22.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.3%36–42.4 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.7–12.9 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%30.9–34.9 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%32.5–36.5 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.1%23.3–26.7 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.5–12.6 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–5.9 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.5 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%12.1–16.5 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%12.3–15.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 22.7%20.5–24.8 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%14.8–18.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.5%37.7–43.4 | 31.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.9–12.4 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69%66.7–71.3 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%55.4–60.3 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.2%77.4–80.8 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69%66.7–71 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%59–64.8 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.8%66.4–75 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.4%25.1–29.5 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33%30.7–35.4 | 28% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%16.3–19.3 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.1%14.7–17.6 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10.7–12.5 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.5%17.9–21.1 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1%32.6–37.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%12.4–14.8 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%17.3–20.5 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.2–6.1 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.5–10.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.7–4.4 | 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 Parkland
Is Parkland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parkland is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #253 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Parkland?
CDC estimates 39.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 42.4%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Parkland?
St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Parkland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Parkland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–12.4%), 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 Parkland 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 Parkland.
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.