Ruston, WA health
Ruston differs from Washington on 11 of 33 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (5.1% vs 8.4%) and more adults seeing a dentist (74.2% vs 67%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (10.2% vs 7.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for RustonRuston’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ruston is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns and 72% of Washington towns.
Wealth explains part of the grade. Ruston is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.
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 Washington 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 Ruston 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. Ruston 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.
How Ruston compares with Washington
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.
Out of every 100 Ruston adults…
Bars show Ruston; the black tick is Washington. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
WA 17.9%
WA 31.8%
WA 16.6%
WA 10.1%
Keeping up with care
Share of Ruston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Ruston adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Ruston adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Washington. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Ruston
No hospital or community health center in Ruston 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 Ruston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
All 33 measures for Ruston
| Measure | Ruston | Margin | Washington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35% | 32.7–37.6% | 30.5% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 39.6% | 37.2–41.9% | 34.9% | worse |
| Obesity | 35% | 31.9–38.5% | 30.6% | worse |
| Arthritis | 30.1% | 28–32.4% | 24.4% | worse |
| Depression | 25.5% | 23.4–27.8% | 25.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 7.9% | 6.6–9.3% | 9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.5–11.5% | 10.7% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.2% | 9.3–11.1% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3% | 9.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 5% | 4.1–6.1% | 5.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.8% | 5–6.6% | 5.4% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3% | 2.6–3.5% | 2.9% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.8% | 7–11% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16% | 14.3–17.7% | 16.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 15.3% | 13–18.2% | 17.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.2% | 29.7–34.9% | 31.8% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 74.7% | 72.5–76.8% | 70.7% | better |
| Dentist visit | 74.2% | 72.3–76.1% | 67% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 88.4% | 86.8–89.8% | 84% | better |
| Colon screening | 71.6% | 69.1–74% | 66.2% | better |
| Mammogram | 73.6% | 69.5–77.7% | 74.2% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75% | 72.5–77.4% | 70.7% | better |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 4.1–6.4% | 8.4% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 14.9% | 13.3–16.7% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 14% | 12–16.4% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.7% | 11.1–14.4% | 12.4% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4% | 24.4–30.8% | 27.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 11.2% | 9.5–13.2% | 10.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11.8% | 10.3–13.6% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 7% | 6.2–7.9% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 3.4% | 2.9–3.9% | 4.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.8% | 2.4–3.3% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 5.9% | 5–7% | 6.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Washington 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.