Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Vashon is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns
Vashon differs from Washington on 25 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vashon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vashon
Cancer, arthritis and high cholesterol run high in Vashon
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.9%), vs 7.9% across Washington. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (30.1%), vs 24.4% across Washington. High cholesterol is also above the state: 41.6%, vs 34.9% across Washington. In all, Vashon runs above Washington on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Washington 17%), and cancer, arthritis and high cholesterol are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Vashon, and more people treating it
35.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Washington 30.5%), but 76.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 70.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Vashon keeps up with checkups
It beats Washington on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (76.3% vs 70.7%) and dentist visits (73.8% vs 67%). 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 Vashon’s likely range.
What’s behind Vashon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vashon is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, #35 of 285 in Washington. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 82%.
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). Vashon’s median household income is $120,571; among the 5,668 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$151K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Vashon adults…
Vashon runs below WA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Vashon is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Washington. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Vashon as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Vashon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Care in and near Vashon
1 community health center in Vashon, 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 Vashon; ≈ 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.
69 miles of trails across 39 parks and preserves
How Vashon adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Vashon does better than 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.
6.3% of Vashon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Vashon and the towns around it
Vashon’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vashon adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vashon
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vashon is better than Washington on 19 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Vashon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vashon | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.9–15.3 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.7–13.2 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.4–15 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.8%22.5–27.3 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%33.3–37.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.6%39.6–43.6 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.1%28.2–32 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.7–11.5 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.9%11–12.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 5.3%4.5–6.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.1%5.1–7.2 | 9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.6%6.3–9 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.9%12.1–15.9 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%13.8–16.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.9%24.9–28.9 | 31.8% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.2%4.3–6.2 | 8.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%74.5–78 | 70.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.8%72.1–75.5 | 67% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.6%89.7–91.6 | 84% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%74.1–78.2 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72%69.9–74.1 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%72–78.8 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%23.5–27.1 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%21–24.2 | 28% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.1%5.5–6.6 | 10.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 9.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.1%2.7–3.4 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.3%5.7–7 | 11% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.4%22.1–26.8 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%9–11.7 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%4.9–6.4 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.4 | 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 Vashon
Is Vashon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vashon is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #35 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vashon?
CDC estimates 24.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.5% and 27.3%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vashon?
Highline Medical Center in Burien, 6.2 miles in a straight line from Vashon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Vashon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.3–6.2%), 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 Vashon more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Vashon.
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.