Photo: Turtleey · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ruston is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Ruston differs from Washington on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ruston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ruston
Cancer and arthritis run high in Ruston
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.9% across Washington. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (30.1%), vs 24.4% across Washington. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Ruston’s lead shrinks
Ruston is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns, but 70% of the 6,254 towns with similar household incomes ($87K–$145K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Ruston, and more people treating it
35% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 75% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Ruston keeps up with checkups
It beats Washington on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (74.7% vs 70.7%) and dentist visits (74.2% vs 67%). Checkups ↓
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 Ruston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Ruston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ruston is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 97% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 59%.
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). Ruston’s median household income is $116,331; among the 6,254 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$145K), it’s healthier than 70%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ruston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Out of every 100 Ruston adults…
Ruston runs above WA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ruston
No hospital or community health center in Ruston 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 Ruston; ≈ 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Ruston adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Ruston does better than 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7% of Ruston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Ruston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruston | A− | 35% | 10.8% | 8.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ruston adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ruston
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ruston is better than Washington on 11 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Ruston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ruston | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12–16.4 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.1–14.4 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.3–16.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35%31.9–38.5 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35%32.7–37.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%37.2–41.9 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.1%28–32.4 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.5–11.5 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.3–11.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5–6.6 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5%4.1–6.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.5 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.9%6.6–9.3 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.8%7–11 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 15.3%13–18.2 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%14.3–17.7 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.2%29.7–34.9 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.1%4.1–6.4 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.7%72.5–76.8 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.2%72.3–76.1 | 67% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.8–89.8 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%72.5–77.4 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.6%69.1–74 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%69.5–77.7 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%23.4–27.8 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%21.9–25.8 | 28% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.7%6–7.4 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4%3.5–4.5 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.8–5.7 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%6.3–7.8 | 11% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%24.4–30.8 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.2%9.5–13.2 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.8%10.3–13.6 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%2.9–3.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5–7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.4–3.3 | 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 Ruston
Is Ruston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ruston is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 70%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ruston?
CDC estimates 35% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 38.5%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ruston?
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Ruston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ruston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.1–6.4%), 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 Ruston 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 Ruston.
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.