Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Washington, Vancouver is healthier than 28% of graded towns
Vancouver trails Washington on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vancouver. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vancouver
Washington sets a high bar
Vancouver is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, but only 28% of the 285 Washington towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
More Vancouver adults get no exercise
1 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (21.2%), vs 17.9% across Washington. There are 53 miles of trails across 117 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Obesity and COPD run high in Vancouver
36.2% of adults have obesity, vs 30.6% across Washington. 1 in 17 adults have COPD (5.9%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 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 Vancouver’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Vancouver’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vancouver is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, #205 of 285 in Washington. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Vancouver’s median household income is $81,338; among the 10,691 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 66%, about where its income would put it.
At 199,698 residents, Vancouver is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
53 miles of trails across 117 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Vancouver adults…
Vancouver runs above WA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Vancouver
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Vancouver, 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 Vancouver; ≈ 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 Vancouver adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Vancouver adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Vancouver 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.
13.1% of Vancouver adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Vancouver and the towns around it
Vancouver’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | B | 36.2% | 9.9% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Hazel Dell | B | 36.3% | 9.6% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Five Corners | B | 36.2% | 9.4% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Minnehaha | B | 36.2% | 9.5% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Orchards | B | 36.6% | 9.1% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Camas | A | 33.1% | 8.4% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Lake Shore | A | 33.3% | 9.3% | 8.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vancouver adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vancouver
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vancouver is better than Washington on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Vancouver’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vancouver | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%16.9–20.1 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.5–15.1 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.5–20.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%32.9–39.6 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.9–11 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31%28.9–33.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33%30.7–35.3 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.3%23.4–27.1 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.8–13.1 | 10.7% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.4–8.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.9%5.4–6.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 2.9% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.1%7.5–10.8 | 9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7%10.4–13 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.2%19–23.5 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%14.4–18.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.6%28.5–34.5 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%8.4–10.6 | 8.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.2%65.5–70.8 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.6%60.9–65.9 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%80.7–83.9 | 84% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.3%68.8–73.6 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%61.7–67.9 | 66.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%69–78.1 | 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 | 26.9%24.5–29.4 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%10.5–12.8 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%10–12.4 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%5.3–6.7 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.4–8.9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.1%11.9–14.4 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%27.2–31.9 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%11.4–13.7 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.8–16.5 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.2–4.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 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 Vancouver
Is Vancouver a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vancouver is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #205 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 66%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vancouver?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 39.6%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vancouver?
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Vancouver’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Vancouver have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–10.6%), 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
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.