Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Within Washington, Spokane is healthier than 30% of graded towns
Spokane trails Washington on 15 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Spokane. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Spokane
Washington sets a high bar
Spokane is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, but only 30% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Spokane
1 in 15 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (6.7%), vs 5.1% across Washington. No reliable transportation (8.8% vs 7.2%) is higher too. 16% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Smoking is more common in Spokane
1 in 8 adults smoke cigarettes (12.7%), vs 10.1% across Washington. Habits ↓
COPD and obesity run high in Spokane
1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.3%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 3 adults have obesity (35.3%), vs 30.6% across Washington. Conditions ↓
Spokane is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Spokane is healthier than 63%. Against the 10,507 towns with similar household incomes ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 79%. 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 Spokane’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Spokane’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spokane is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #198 of 285 in Washington. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Spokane’s median household income is $70,064; among the 10,507 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 230,783 residents, Spokane is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16% of Spokane adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
124 miles of trails across 91 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Spokane adults…
Spokane runs above WA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Spokane
5 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Spokane.
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 Spokane; ≈ 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 Spokane adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Spokane adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Spokane 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.
Spokane and the towns around it
Spokane’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane | B | 35.3% | 10.3% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Airway Heights | C+ | 39.2% | 10.6% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Town and Country | A− | 33.7% | 10.2% | 11% | CDC place |
| Country Homes | A− | 30.9% | 7.7% | 10% | CDC place |
| Spokane Valley | B | 35.1% | 10.5% | 12.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Spokane adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Spokane
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Spokane is better than Washington on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Spokane’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Spokane | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19%17.4–20.8 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.4–15 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%17.1–20.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.3%32–38.8 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.5%28.4–32.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%31.7–36.3 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7%23.9–27.6 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.9–13.2 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.3–8.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.8–7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.5 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%9.3–13 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%11.4–14.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 20.3%18.2–22.6 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%15.5–19.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.3%30.2–36.4 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.1%69.5–74.6 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.9%60.3–65.4 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.1%79.4–82.7 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.7%66.1–71.1 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.1%63.8–70.1 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%72.3–81.2 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.4%25–29.9 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%25.7–30.5 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.1%11–13.3 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%10.4–12.8 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%8.1–9.6 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16%14.7–17.5 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%28–32.9 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%11.2–13.6 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.9–17.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.4–7.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.6–5.3 | 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%3.6–4.2 | 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 Spokane
Is Spokane a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spokane is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #198 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 79%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Spokane?
CDC estimates 35.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 38.8%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Spokane?
Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Spokane’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Spokane have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–9.2%), 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 Spokane 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 Spokane.
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.