Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Soap Lake is healthier than 54%
Soap Lake differs from Washington on 21 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Soap Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Soap Lake
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Soap Lake
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.6%), about twice the Washington rate. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.6%), about twice the Washington rate. Stroke is also above the state: 5.5%, vs 2.9% across Washington. In all, Soap Lake runs above Washington on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Soap Lake adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.2%), vs 17.9% across Washington. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Soap Lake
57.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 18.8% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). Checkups ↓
Soap Lake is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Soap Lake is healthier than 21%. Against the 5,056 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 54%. 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 Soap Lake’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Soap Lake’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Soap Lake is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 46% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Soap Lake’s median household income is $48,125; among the 5,056 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Soap Lake adults…
Soap Lake runs above WA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
1.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Soap Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Care in and near Soap Lake
No hospital or community health center in Soap Lake 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 Soap Lake; ≈ 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 Soap Lake 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.
15.2% of Soap Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Soap Lake and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Soap Lake adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Soap Lake
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Soap Lake is better than Washington on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Soap Lake’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Soap Lake | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%22.7–30.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16–21 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.4–19.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%34.1–44.8 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.5–17.7 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%39.8–47.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%37.6–45.2 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.1%33.9–40.5 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.3 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.2–12.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.6%9.2–12 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.6%8.7–12.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.8%15.7–22.1 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%12.5–18.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.2%23.9–33 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%12–16.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.5%27.6–35.9 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%9.9–14.8 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.4%72.4–78.5 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%54–60.4 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84%81.8–86 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.4–81.9 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59.8–68.5 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%63.3–76.1 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.6–28.1 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.3%26.2–32.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%11.5–14.2 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.5%9.4–11.8 | 9.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.2%13.7–16.8 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%36–45.5 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.8%17.7–24.4 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.6%15.3–20.3 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.2–8.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%9.4–13 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%4.9–6.9 | 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 Soap Lake
Is Soap Lake a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Soap Lake is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− 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 Soap Lake?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 44.8%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Soap Lake?
Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Soap Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Soap Lake have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–14.8%), 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 Soap Lake more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Soap Lake.
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.