Health · Washington

Washington, ME health

On most measures Washington looks like Maine as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more adults with arthritis (35.2% vs 32%) and fewer adults screened for colon cancer (66.2% vs 70.5%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP code 04574 (all of Washington)
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Washington’s Health Grade: B−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Washington is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, and than 73% of towns with similar incomes.

B-Self-rated healthCPhysical distressB-Mental distressA-ObesityB-DiabetesCSmokingBExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 47%
Less healthyHealthier
Maine towns we grade (276)Healthier than 49%
Towns with similar incomes, $45K–$75K (8,069)Healthier than 73%

Better than its income would suggest. Washington is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Washington could be anywhere from C− 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 Maine 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’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. 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 Maine

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

Out of every 100 Washington adults…

37 of every 100 Washington adults have high blood pressure
Maine: 36 in 100 · too close to call · margin 33.9–40.4%

Bars show Washington; the black tick is Maine. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Washington, betterWashington, worseToo close to callMaine
Get no exerciseshare of adults 24.4% Washington
ME 23.1%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 32.7% Washington
ME 32.8%
Binge drinkshare of adults 14% Washington
ME 15.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 17% Washington
ME 14.4%
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 Maine.

82%
Yearly checkup
ME 81%
61%
Dentist visit
ME 64%
87%
Cholesterol check
ME 87%
66%
Colon screening
ME 71%
79%
Mammogram
ME 80%
77%
Taking BP meds
ME 76%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Washington 8.5% · Maine 1 in 13 (7.8%)
Mind & connection

How Washington adults are doing

1 in 3Washington adults feel lonely
30.2% · Maine 32% · too close to call
1 in 4Washington adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.4% · Maine 26.9% · too close to call
1 in 4Washington adults lack social or emotional support
23.2% · Maine 22.7% · too close to call
1 in 6Washington adults are in frequent mental distress
17.3% · Maine 17.7% · 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 8
Washington adults worry about having enough food
11.9% · ME 10.7% · about the same
1 in 9
Washington adults worry about keeping their housing
10.9% · ME 9.8% · about the same
1 in 11
Washington adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.8% · ME 7.4% · about the same
1 in 11
Washington adults lack reliable transportation
8.7% · ME 7.8% · about the same

17.2% of Washington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.

Disability

Living with a disability

32.8%

of Washington adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.2%
Thinking or memory15.9%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone9.2%
Vision5.4%
Dressing or bathing4.4%

Black tick: Maine. 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.

Union: 30.7% Somerville: 33% Palermo: 34.2% Liberty: 35.3% Jefferson: 33% Warren: 31.3% Appleton: 30.7% Hope: 29.5% Waldoboro: 31.1% Windsor: 32.7% China: 31.1% Montville: 34.7% Nobleboro: 32.1% Whitefield: 33.5% Alna: 31.2% Newcastle: 30.6% Washington: 31.7% Washington Union Somerville Palermo Liberty Jefferson Lincolnhealth · Damariscotta · 17.6 mi · 3★ MedicareH Sheepscot Valley Health Center · Whitefield · 7.7 mi+
29.5%35.3%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#9 of 17towns on this map, healthiest first
Union30.7%
Washington31.7%
Somerville33%
Jefferson33%
Palermo34.2%
Liberty35.3%
6 places to get careNearest ER 15.4 mi

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

No hospital or community health center in Washington itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERTogus VA Medical CenterAugusta · 15.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMaine General Medical Center★★★★★ · 18.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHealth Reach Community Health CentersWhitefield · 7.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.7 mi
Health Reach Community Health Centers
4 sites · nearest in Whitefield
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15.4 mi
Togus VA Medical Center
Augusta · ★★★★★
ERVA
17.2 mi
Mainehealth Pen Bay Hospital
Rockport · ★★★★★
ER
17.5 mi
Mid-Coast Health Net/Knox Clinic Main Site
Rockland · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
17.6 mi
Lincolnhealth
Damariscotta · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
18.7 mi
Maine General Medical Center
Augusta · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careWashington is not a shortage area
! Dental careWashington is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Augusta · need score 16 of 25
✓ Mental healthWashington is not a shortage area

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
MeasureWashingtonMarginMaine
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure37.2%33.9–40.4%35.7%about the same
High cholesterol39.5%36.5–42.6%37.4%about the same
Obesity31.7%27.2–36.3%32.7%about the same
Arthritis35.2%32.1–38.1%32%worse
Depression27.4%24.4–30.7%26.9%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)15.4%12.6–18.3%14.8%about the same
Asthma12.7%11.4–14.2%12.6%about the same
Cancer (not skin)10.1%9–11.1%9.9%about the same
Diabetes12.3%10.5–14.2%11.2%about the same
COPD10.1%8.2–12%8.4%about the same
Heart disease8.6%7.4–9.8%7.6%about the same
Stroke4.2%3.6–4.8%3.6%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17%13.5–20.7%14.4%about the same
Binge drink14%11.9–16.3%15.5%about the same
Get no exercise24.4%20–28.8%23.1%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.7%28.5–36.9%32.8%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup81.6%78.8–84%81.2%about the same
Dentist visit61%57.4–64.1%63.8%about the same
Cholesterol check87.4%85.2–89.3%87.1%about the same
Colon screening66.2%62–70.1%70.5%worse
Mammogram79.2%73.9–83.9%80.3%about the same
Taking BP meds77.3%74.4–80%76.4%about the same
No health insurance8.5%6.3–11.2%7.8%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely30.2%26.5–34%32%about the same
Lack emotional support23.2%20–26.7%22.7%about the same
Frequent mental distress17.3%15–19.5%17.7%about the same
Fair or poor health20.2%16.8–23.9%18.7%about the same
Frequent physical distress15.5%13.2–17.8%14.3%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity11.9%9.2–14.9%10.7%about the same
Housing insecurity10.9%8.8–13.2%9.8%about the same
Utility shut-off threat8.8%7.3–10.5%7.4%about the same
No reliable transportation8.7%7.2–10.3%7.8%about the same
Receive SNAP17.2%13.3–21.2%14.3%
Disability
Any disability32.8%28.3–37.2%32.1%
Walking or climbing stairs16.2%13.5–19.1%14%
Thinking or memory15.9%13.5–18.5%15.5%
Hearing9.3%8.1–10.5%8.4%
Vision5.4%4.6–6.4%4.4%
Dressing or bathing4.4%3.7–5.3%3.5%
Errands alone9.2%7.8–10.9%8.1%
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 Maine figure falls inside it, we don't call Washington better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Washington by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Washington by how much of its land each one covers.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01