Health · Washington
Washington, DC health
On most measures Washington looks like District of Columbia as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (11.2% vs 7.3%) and more adults facing a utility shut-off (9% vs 7.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WashingtonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
A+
Washington’s Health Grade: A+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Washington is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns.
ASelf-rated healthA+Physical distressA-Mental distressA+ObesityA+DiabetesASmokingA+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 96%
Less healthyHealthier
Towns with similar incomes, $82K–$137K (6,727)Healthier than 98%
About what its income would suggest. Washington does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Washington could be anywhere from A to A+.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in District of Columbia ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Washington with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Washington uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Washington compares with District of Columbia
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
24.6% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
15.3% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
75.2% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
37.5% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
16% face food insecurity
0 better2 close3 worse
Disability
22.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Washington adults…
28 of every 100 Washington adults have high blood pressure
District of Columbia: 29 in 100 · too close to call · margin 24.6–31.1%
Bars show Washington; the black tick is District of Columbia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Washington, betterWashington, worseToo close to callDistrict of Columbia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
15.3% Washington
DC 14.9%
DC 14.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
33.1% Washington
DC 32.8%
DC 32.8%
Binge drinkshare of adults
24% Washington
DC 23.4%
DC 23.4%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
9.7% Washington
DC 9.4%
DC 9.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Washington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks District of Columbia.
Yearly checkup
DC 76%Dentist visit
DC 69%Cholesterol check
DC 89%Colon screening
DC 69%Mammogram
DC 77%Taking BP meds
DC 72%1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Washington 6.7% · District of Columbia 1 in 15 (6.5%)
Mind & connection
How Washington adults are doing
1 in 3Washington adults feel lonely
37.5% · District of Columbia 37% · too close to call
1 in 5Washington adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.1% · District of Columbia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Washington adults lack social or emotional support
23% · District of Columbia 22.9% · too close to call
1 in 7Washington adults are in frequent mental distress
14.6% · District of Columbia 14.1% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 6
Washington adults worry about having enough food
16% · DC 13.9% · worse
1 in 7
Washington adults worry about keeping their housing
13.4% · DC 12.2% · about the same
1 in 11
Washington adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9% · DC 7.8% · worse
1 in 11
Washington adults lack reliable transportation
9.1% · DC 8% · worse
15.8% of Washington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13% across District of Columbia.
Disability
Living with a disability
22.2%
of Washington adults live with a disability (District of Columbia 21.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs9.5%
Thinking or memory12.6%
Hearing3.7%
Errands alone7%
Vision4.6%
Dressing or bathing3.3%
Black tick: District of Columbia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Washington
Washington and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Washington.
21.1%45.9%· darker is worse for health
Obesity
#14 of 31towns on this map, healthiest first
Bethesda22.2%
Brookmont22.9%
Washington24.6%
Arlington24.9%
Silver Spring29.5%
Takoma Park30.1%
Alexandria31.7%
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
Getting care
Care in and near Washington
8 hospitals and 8 community health centers in Washington.
HNearest ERChildren's National HospitalWashington · 1.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careUnity Health CareWashington · 0.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.2 mi
Unity Health Care
28 sites · nearest in Washington
Unity at Perry School Health CenterWashington · 0.2 mi
Patricia Handy PlaceWashington · 0.3 mi
Isaiah HouseWashington · 0.4 mi
So Others Might Eat (Some)Washington · 0.4 mi
Central Union MissionWashington · 0.5 mi
Ccnv ShelterWashington · 0.6 mi
Downtown BidWashington · 0.8 mi
N Street VillageWashington · 0.8 mi
Southwest Health CenterWashington · 1.7 mi
New York Avenue ShelterWashington · 1.8 mi
Brentwood Health CenterWashington · 1.9 mi
Christ HouseWashington · 1.9 mi
Columbia Road Health CenterWashington · 1.9 mi
Upper Cardozo Health CenterWashington · 1.9 mi
Pathways To Housing-Bladensburg RdWashington · 2 mi
Harbor LightWashington · 2.5 mi
Unity at Varnum Street - Suite 312Washington · 3.1 mi
Unity at Varnum Street - Suite 317Washington · 3.1 mi
Anacostia Health CenterWashington · 3.3 mi
Minnesota Ave Health CenterWashington · 3.6 mi
Parkside Health CenterWashington · 3.7 mi
801 East Shelter ClinicWashington · 3.8 mi
801 East Shelter-Medical RespiteWashington · 3.8 mi
Hope Has A Home 2Washington · 3.9 mi
Stanton Road Health CenterWashington · 4.3 mi
Conway Behavioral Health ServicesWashington · 4.3 mi
Hope Has A HomeWashington · 4.3 mi
Friendship PlaceWashington · 4.7 mi
0.5 mi
Bread for the City
2 sites · nearest in Washington
Bread for the City's Northwest CenterWashington · 0.5 mi
The Michelle Obama Southeast Center of Bread for the CityWashington · 3.2 mi
0.9 mi
Whitman-Walker Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Washington
Whitman-Walker HealthWashington · 0.9 mi
Elizabeth Taylor Medical CenterWashington · 1 mi
Whitman-Walker Health New Max RobinsonWashington · 4.4 mi
1.7 mi
Community of Hope
5 sites · nearest in Washington
Community of Hope Marie Reed CenterWashington · 1.7 mi
Family Health and Birth Center - Bladensburg Road RelocationWashington · 2.6 mi
The CommonsWashington · 3.8 mi
Community of Hope Conway Health and Resource CenterWashington · 5.1 mi
The TriumphWashington · 5.4 mi
1.7 mi
Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care
3 sites · nearest in Washington
Mary's Center - Adams Morgan DcWashington · 1.7 mi
Mary's Center - Petworth Health Center DcWashington · 2.5 mi
Fort Totten Dc/Briya Pcs/Bridges PcsWashington · 3.4 mi
1.8 mi
La Clinica Del Pueblo
2 sites · nearest in Washington
La Clinica Del PuebloWashington · 1.8 mi
La Casa Community Health Action CenterWashington · 2.2 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary carePart of Washington is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME - Anacostia · need score 21 of 25
! Dental carePart of Washington is a federal shortage area for some residents.Homeless - Downtown D.C. · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthPart of Washington is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME-Anacostia · need score 16 of 25
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 Washington. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Washington
| Measure | Washington | Margin | District of Columbia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 27.7% | 24.6–31.1% | 28.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 32% | 28.2–36.2% | 32.8% | about the same |
| Obesity | 24.6% | 19.5–30.4% | 24.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 16.9% | 14.8–19.2% | 17.4% | about the same |
| Depression | 22.1% | 18.6–26.1% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 11.2% | 9.4–13.1% | 7.3% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.3–11.6% | 10.2% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9% | 5.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9% | 7.8% | about the same |
| COPD | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6% | 4% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1% | 3.8% | about the same |
| Stroke | 2.8% | 2.6–3% | 2.8% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.7% | 8.5–11% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 24% | 20.9–27.4% | 23.4% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 15.3% | 12.6–18.5% | 14.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1% | 27.8–38.6% | 32.8% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.2% | 71–79.4% | 75.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 68.3% | 64–72.1% | 69% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 88.7% | 87.1–90.2% | 89.3% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 69.8% | 65.4–73.8% | 69.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.9% | 70.6–82.4% | 77.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 71.1% | 68.4–73.7% | 71.6% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8% | 6.5% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.5% | 33.4–41.7% | 37% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23% | 20–26.3% | 22.9% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.6% | 13.1–16.3% | 14.1% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 13.8% | 12.3–15.3% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 9.4% | 8.4–10.4% | 9.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 16% | 14.6–17.5% | 13.9% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 13.4% | 12–14.9% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9% | 8–10.1% | 7.8% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1% | 8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 15.8% | 14–17.8% | 13% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.2% | 19.3–25.4% | 21.6% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 9.5% | 8.6–10.6% | 9.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.6% | 11.3–14.1% | 12% | |
| Hearing | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2% | 3.9% | |
| Vision | 4.6% | 4.3–5% | 4.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.3% | 3–3.5% | 2.9% | |
| Errands alone | 7% | 6.4–7.7% | 6.4% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Washington door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the District of Columbia figure falls inside it, we don't call Washington better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Washington directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The District of Columbia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.