Photo: Jeffery Hayes · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Seattle as a whole is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Seattle differs from Washington on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Seattle. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Seattle
Seattle has eight hospitals within its borders
8 hospitals and 6 community health centers are inside Seattle. Virginia Mason Medical Center is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Seattle
Seattle runs below Washington on eight chronic conditions, most of all COPD (2.9% vs 5.1%), heart disease (3.4% vs 5.4%) and diabetes (6.1% vs 9.5%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Seattle doesn’t win on
19% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Washington, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Seattle is an active town
Only 12.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.9% across Washington. The town has 194 miles of trails across 272 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Seattle’s likely range.
What’s behind Seattle’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Seattle is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #19 of 285 in Washington. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 77%.
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). Seattle’s median household income is $123,860; among the 5,186 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($93K–$155K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
At 784,777 residents, Seattle is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Seattle
8 hospitals and 6 community health centers in Seattle.
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 Seattle; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Seattle adults…
Seattle runs below WA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Seattle residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
194 miles of trails across 272 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Seattle adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Seattle 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.
8.3% of Seattle adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Seattle and the towns around it
Seattle’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | A+ | 22.2% | 6.1% | 6.5% | CDC place |
| Bainbridge Island | A+ | 28.3% | 9.1% | 6.1% | CDC place |
| Mercer Island | A+ | 19.6% | 7.4% | 4.9% | CDC place |
| Tukwila | A− | 25.7% | 9.3% | 10.2% | CDC place |
| Kirkland | A+ | 21.8% | 6.4% | 6.3% | CDC place |
| Boulevard Park | B− | 30.8% | 10.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| White Center | A− | 26.7% | 9.7% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway | A | 25.6% | 10.4% | 9.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Seattle adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Seattle
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Seattle is better than Washington on 22 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Seattle’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Seattle | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.2%10.4–12.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.8%8.2–9.6 | 12.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%14.3–16.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.2%20.1–24.4 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.1%5.5–6.6 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.6%22.2–25 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.9%29.2–32.6 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17%15.9–18.1 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%9.2–10.7 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.6–6.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.4%3.1–3.6 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.9%1.8–2.1 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 12.2%11.2–13.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19%17.5–20.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29%26.9–31.1 | 31.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.3%66.3–70.4 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.3%69.5–73 | 67% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.9–85.3 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.3%62.4–66.3 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%64.7–69.1 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%75–81.1 | 74.2% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%23.4–26.9 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27%25.2–28.7 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.2%7.5–9 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%7.7–9.2 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.9–6.9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%7.6–9 | 11% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 19.6%18.3–21 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.1%5.6–6.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.2%10.4–12.1 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4%3.7–4.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.8–3.2 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5%4.6–5.4 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.9–2.2 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Seattle
Is Seattle a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Seattle is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #19 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Seattle?
CDC estimates 22.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.1% and 24.4%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Seattle?
Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Seattle’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Seattle have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–6.8%), 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 Seattle more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Seattle.
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.