Within Washington, Spanaway is healthier than 13% of graded towns
Spanaway differs from Washington on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Spanaway. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Spanaway
Making ends meet is harder in Spanaway
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.4%), vs 10.2% across Washington. Utility shut-off threats (8.2% vs 5.1%) and housing insecurity (15.6% vs 9.9%) are higher too. 17.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Spanaway
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.2%), vs 16.4% across Washington. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 33.2%, vs 28% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in Spanaway
59.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67% across Washington. Among those 65 and older, 12.7% have lost all their teeth (Washington 9%). 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 Spanaway’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B.
What’s behind Spanaway’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spanaway is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #248 of 285 in Washington. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 75% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Spanaway’s median household income is $98,251; among the 8,824 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 21%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Where Spanaway compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.5% of Spanaway adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
How Spanaway adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Spanaway 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Spanaway adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Out of every 100 Spanaway adults…
Spanaway runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Spanaway residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Spanaway
2 community health centers in Spanaway, 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 Spanaway; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
8.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Spanaway and the towns around it
Spanaway’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanaway | C+ | 39.5% | 11.5% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| Frederickson | B | 37.7% | 9.5% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Parkland | C+ | 39.3% | 11.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Elk Plain | B− | 38.6% | 11.2% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| McChord AFB | A− | 34.4% | 3.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Spanaway adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Spanaway
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Spanaway is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Spanaway’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Spanaway | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%18.2–21.6 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.6–16.2 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%18.5–21.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%36.3–42.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10.4–12.5 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%30.6–34.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%32.5–36.6 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.1%23.4–26.7 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.5–12.5 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.8–6.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.7–14.7 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%12.2–15.1 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.6%19.6–23.7 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17%15.2–18.8 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.5%37.6–43.4 | 31.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69%66.5–71.2 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.7%57.2–62 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.7%78.9–82.2 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.5%66.1–70.7 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.8%58.9–64.6 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.6%66.1–74.7 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%25.1–29.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.2%30.9–35.6 | 28% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.4%15–17.8 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.6%14.2–17.1 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.3–9.1 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.8–11.6 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.5%16–19.1 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%31.3–35.9 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11.9–14.2 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%16.5–19.5 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.6 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%8–9.6 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 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 Spanaway
Is Spanaway a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spanaway is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #248 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Spanaway?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.3% and 42.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Spanaway?
St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, 5.5 miles in a straight line from Spanaway’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Spanaway have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–11.8%), 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 Spanaway more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Spanaway.
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.