Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ritzville is healthier than 87%
Ritzville differs from Washington on 13 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ritzville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ritzville
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Ritzville
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.9%), vs 5.4% across Washington. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Ritzville runs above Washington on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ritzville, and more people treating it
36.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 75.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Ritzville
1 in 8 adults smoke cigarettes (13.2%), vs 10.1% across Washington. Habits ↓
Ritzville is short on primary care and mental health care
Ritzville’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Ritzville is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ritzville is healthier than 58%. Against the 7,863 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 87%. 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 Ritzville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Ritzville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ritzville is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 76% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 31%).
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). Ritzville’s median household income is $56,442; among the 7,863 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 87%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Ritzville adults…
Ritzville runs above WA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ritzville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Ritzville
1 hospital in Ritzville, 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 Ritzville; ≈ 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).
How Ritzville 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.
13.3% of Ritzville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Ritzville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritzville | B | 33.6% | 11.8% | 13.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ritzville adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ritzville
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ritzville is better than Washington on 2 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Ritzville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ritzville | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%16.6–23.4 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.3–17.4 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.1–19.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%28.3–39.7 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.2–13.7 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%33.4–40.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34.2–41.7 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2%28.2–34.5 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.3–12.9 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.6%9.5–11.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%6.9–9 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%6.6–9.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.6–4.8 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%10–14.5 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.2%10.7–15.9 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%17.7–25.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.4–18.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.6%22.4–31.4 | 31.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%6.9–11.4 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73%69.5–76.7 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%62.3–68.8 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.2–86.4 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%72.7–78.6 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%63.6–72.5 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72%64.9–78.6 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.2–27.9 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%23.1–29.3 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.8%9.6–11.9 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.3%11.9–14.6 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%28.6–37.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%12.9–17.8 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.5–18.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.6–6.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.6–10.6 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 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 Ritzville
Is Ritzville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ritzville is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ritzville?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 39.7%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ritzville?
East Adams Rural Hospital in Ritzville, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Ritzville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ritzville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–11.4%), 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 Ritzville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ritzville.
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.