Photo: Drums600 at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Sumas is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
Sumas differs from Washington on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sumas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sumas
Sumas is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Sumas’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
The nearest ER is 35 miles from Sumas
The closest emergency room is Peacehealth United General Medical Center in Sedro Woolley, 34.6 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Sea Mar Community Health Centers is closer (10.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Depression is more common in Sumas
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (30.4%), vs 25.1% across Washington. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.2%, vs 16.4% across Washington. Mind & connection ↓
Diabetes and high blood pressure are less common in Sumas
Sumas runs below Washington on diabetes (7.4% vs 9.5%) and high blood pressure (24.9% vs 30.5%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Sumas’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Sumas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sumas is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Sumas’ median household income is $89,375; among the 10,013 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 83%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Sumas
No hospital or community health center in Sumas 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 Sumas; ≈ 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 Sumas adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Sumas 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.
Out of every 100 Sumas adults…
Sumas runs below WA on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Sumas residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sumas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11% of Sumas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Sumas and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumas | A− | 26.8% | 7.4% | 11.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sumas adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sumas
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sumas is better than Washington on 6 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Sumas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sumas | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.9%13.4–18.7 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11–14.5 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17–21.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.8%23.2–30.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.4%6.4–8.5 | 9.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.9%22.6–27.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.5%27.8–33.3 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.2%19.2–23.3 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.4–7.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4–5.2 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.7%3.9–5.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.2%7.5–11.1 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%9.7–14.3 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 16.6%13.9–19.6 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.2%17.7–22.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%27.7–34.8 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%7.5–11.8 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 67%63.7–70.3 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%59–64.8 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.2%78.4–83.7 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67%64–69.8 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.7%63.8–71.3 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%68.5–79.3 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.4%27.3–33.6 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%25.3–31 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.7%9.6–11.9 | 10.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%10–12.5 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 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%9.8–12.2 | 11% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.5%25–32.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.7%8.2–11.4 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.6–18.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.3–4.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.1–8.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.4 | 3.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Sumas
Is Sumas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sumas is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 83%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sumas?
CDC estimates 26.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.2% and 30.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Sumas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.8%), 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 Sumas more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sumas.
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.