Within Washington, Selah is healthier than 24% of graded towns
Selah differs from Washington on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Selah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Selah
Washington sets a high bar
Selah is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns, but only 24% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
More Selah adults get no exercise
1 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (21.7%), vs 17.9% across Washington. Habits ↓
The nearest ER is 22 miles from Selah
The closest emergency room is Astria Toppenish Hospital in Toppenish, 21.8 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is closer (2.4 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
1 in 9 working-age adults in Selah has no health insurance
11.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.4% across Washington. 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 Selah’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Selah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Selah is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #217 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 84% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Selah’s median household income is $74,783; among the 10,848 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$93K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
3.4 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Selah
No hospital or community health center in Selah 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 Selah; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Selah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Out of every 100 Selah adults…
Selah runs below WA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
How Selah adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Selah 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.7% of Selah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Selah and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Selah adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Selah
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Selah is better than Washington on 3 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Selah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Selah | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%17.8–23.3 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.8–21 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%33.1–41.4 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.5–11 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.4%26.9–32.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.4%29.6–35.3 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.1%20–24.3 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%4.9–6.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.3 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.7%7.9–11.7 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.5%10.5–14.8 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.7%18.7–25.1 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.5–20.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28%24.7–31.6 | 31.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%9.3–13.7 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.9%64.5–71 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.4%63.5–69.2 | 67% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.7%76.9–82.1 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69%66.1–71.8 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.2%58.2–65.9 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.5%67.4–78.7 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.7–28.5 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.2%25.5–31.1 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.6%9.5–11.7 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.8%9.7–12.1 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%5–6.4 | 5.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%7–8.5 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.7%10.5–13 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.3%26–33 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.3–13.8 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.5–18.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.4–5.6 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.4–9.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.3 | 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 Selah
Is Selah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Selah is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #217 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Selah?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 41.4%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Selah?
Astria Toppenish Hospital in Toppenish, 21.8 miles in a straight line from Selah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Selah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–13.7%), 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 Selah 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 Selah.
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.