U.S. Post Office-Pullman · Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Pullman is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Pullman differs from Washington on 19 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pullman. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pullman
Making ends meet is harder in Pullman
1 in 7 adults lack reliable transportation (14.9%), about twice the Washington rate. Food insecurity (17.8% vs 10.2%) and utility shut-off threats (8% vs 5.1%) are higher too. 23.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Pullman is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pullman is healthier than 78%. Against the 4,587 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 99%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Pullman
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (24.4%), vs 16.4% across Washington. Depression is above the state too: 30.6%, vs 25.1% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Pullman
Pullman runs below Washington on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.8% vs 7.9%), arthritis (13% vs 24.4%) and diabetes (5.1% vs 9.5%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%). 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 Pullman’s likely range.
What’s behind Pullman’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pullman is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #121 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Pullman’s median household income is $46,812; among the 4,587 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 99%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Washington towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Pullman is healthier than 58% of graded towns, against 78% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.2% of Pullman adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
How Pullman adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Pullman 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 Pullman adults…
Pullman runs below WA on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Pullman residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Pullman
1 hospital in Pullman, 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 Pullman; ≈ 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.
15 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Pullman adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Pullman and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pullman | A− | 28.3% | 5.1% | 9.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pullman adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pullman
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pullman is better than Washington on 8 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Pullman’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pullman | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%15.3–19.7 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.4%21.9–26.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.3%24.2–32.7 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 19.3%17.1–21.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 22.8%20.5–25.2 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13%11.6–14.4 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.3–14 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.7%1.6–1.8 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.1%8.4–12.1 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.8%8.4–11.3 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.7%15–20.6 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.4–21 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.7%26.9–35.2 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.4–11.5 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 64.3%60.3–68.2 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.9%53.8–60.1 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 65.4%62.4–68.4 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 52.9%50.4–55.4 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%61.6–69.6 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%68.5–80.4 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.6%27.4–34 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.9%26.7–33.1 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.8%16.1–19.6 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7.1–9.1 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.9%13.6–16.2 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.2%21.2–25.3 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29.5–36.8 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.3%6.4–8.2 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.4%19.9–24.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%10–12.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 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 Pullman
Is Pullman a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pullman is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #121 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pullman?
CDC estimates 28.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.2% and 32.7%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pullman?
Pullman Regional Hospital in Pullman, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Pullman’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pullman have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–11.5%), 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 Pullman 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 Pullman.
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.