Health · Seattle
Seattle, WA health
Seattle differs from Washington on 21 of 33 measures. It has fewer adults with COPD (2.9% vs 5.1%) and fewer adults with heart disease (3.4% vs 5.4%). Where it trails the state: more binge drinkers (19% vs 16.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for SeattleTownTapestry Health GradeNew
A+
Seattle’s Health Grade: A+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Seattle is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns and 95% of Washington towns.
A+Self-rated healthA+Physical distressA-Mental distressA+ObesityA+DiabetesA+SmokingA+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 98%
Less healthyHealthier
Washington towns we grade (395)Healthier than 95%
Towns with similar incomes, $93K–$155K (4,971)Healthier than 99%
About what its income would suggest. Seattle does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
High confidence. Even at the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Seattle stays an 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 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 Seattle 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. Seattle 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 Seattle 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.
Chronic conditions
22.2% have obesity
10 better2 close0 worse
Habits
12.2% get no exercise
3 better0 close1 worse
Care & screenings
68.3% had a checkup
3 better2 close2 worse
Mind & connection
2 better1 close0 worse
Disability
19.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Seattle adults…
24 of every 100 Seattle adults have high blood pressure
Washington: 31 in 100 · better · margin 22.2–25%
Bars show Seattle; the black tick is Washington. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Seattle, betterSeattle, worseToo close to callWashington
Get no exerciseshare of adults
12.2% Seattle
WA 17.9%
WA 17.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
29% Seattle
WA 31.8%
WA 31.8%
Binge drinkshare of adults
19% Seattle
WA 16.6%
WA 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
6.5% Seattle
WA 10.1%
WA 10.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Seattle adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
Yearly checkup
WA 71%Dentist visit
WA 67%Cholesterol check
WA 84%Colon screening
WA 66%Mammogram
WA 74%Taking BP meds
WA 71%1 in 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Seattle 6.1% · Washington 1 in 12 (8.4%)
Mind & connection
How Seattle adults are doing
1 in 4Seattle adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.1% · Washington 25.1% · too close to call
1 in 7Seattle adults are in frequent mental distress
15.3% · Washington 16.4% · too close to call
Disability
Living with a disability
19.6%
of Seattle adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs6.1%
Thinking or memory11.2%
Hearing4%
Errands alone5%
Vision3%
Dressing or bathing2.1%
Black tick: Washington. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Seattle
Seattle 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 Seattle.
18.4%37.3%· darker is worse for health
Obesity
#11 of 30towns on this map, healthiest first
Medina19.3%
Mercer Island19.6%
Kirkland21.8%
Seattle22.2%
Kenmore23%
Shoreline23.2%
Vashon24.8%
Bryn Mawr-Skyway25.6%
Tukwila25.7%
Burien26.4%
White Center26.7%
Bainbridge Island28.3%
Boulevard Park30.8%
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 Seattle
8 hospitals and 6 community health centers in Seattle.
HNearest ERVirginia Mason Medical CenterSeattle · 1.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNeighborcare HealthSeattle · 0.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.2 mi
Neighborcare Health
15 sites · nearest in Seattle
New HorizonsSeattle · 0.2 mi
Simons Senior ApartmentsSeattle · 0.6 mi
Neighborcare Health at Pike Place MarketSeattle · 0.7 mi
The MorrisonSeattle · 1.5 mi
Neighborcare Health at Pacific TowerSeattle · 2.4 mi
Neighborcare Health at 45th Street - DentalSeattle · 3 mi
Neighborcare Health at 45th Street - MedicalSeattle · 3 mi
Neighborcare Health Ballard Homeless Clinic at Nyer Urness HouseSeattle · 3.7 mi
Neighborcare Health at Columbia CitySeattle · 4.9 mi
Neighborcare Health at High PointSeattle · 5.1 mi
Neighborcare Health at GeorgetownSeattle · 5.2 mi
Neighborcare Health at MagnusonSeattle · 5.9 mi
Meridian Center for HealthSeattle · 6 mi
Neighborcare Health at Lake CitySeattle · 7.5 mi
Neighborcare Health at Rainier BeachSeattle · 7.9 mi
0.5 mi
King County
17 sites · nearest in Seattle
Reach Markham Building ClinicSeattle · 0.5 mi
Downtown Public Health CenterSeattle · 0.5 mi
Robert Clewis CenterSeattle · 0.5 mi
Third Ave Center at Opportunity PlaceSeattle · 0.6 mi
Pioneer Square ClinicSeattle · 1.6 mi
Jefferson Terrace (Respite Floor)Seattle · 1.6 mi
Harborview Max ClinicSeattle · 1.6 mi
Std Program Public HealthSeattle · 1.6 mi
Tb Control Program-Public HealthSeattle · 1.7 mi
Uw Homeless Youth ClinicSeattle · 2.1 mi
Neighborcare Health Homeless Youth ClinicSeattle · 3 mi
Harborview Primary Care at Hobson Place ClinicSeattle · 3.2 mi
Neighborcare Health Ballard Homeless ClinicSeattle · 3.7 mi
Columbia Public Health CtrSeattle · 4.9 mi
North Public Health Center at MeridianSeattle · 6 mi
North Public Health Center-Lake City DentalSeattle · 7.4 mi
Ryther South Seattle Youth CenterSeattle · 8 mi
1.6 mi
Seattle Indian Health Board
3 sites · nearest in Seattle
Seattle Indian Health Board - Pioneer SquareSeattle · 1.6 mi
Seattle Indian Health BoardSeattle · 2.2 mi
Seattle Indian Health Board - Lake CitySeattle · 7.6 mi
2.1 mi
International Community Health Services
4 sites · nearest in Seattle
Ichs - International District Medical & Dental ClinicSeattle · 2.1 mi
Teresita Batayola Health ClinicSeattle · 2.4 mi
AcrsSeattle · 4.2 mi
Ichs - Holly Park Medical & Dental ClinicSeattle · 6.5 mi
2.1 mi
Seattle Roots Community Health
4 sites · nearest in Seattle
Seattle Roots at Country DoctorSeattle · 2.1 mi
Seattle Roots - Dental ClinicSeattle · 2.1 mi
Seattle Roots at Step ClinicSeattle · 2.4 mi
Seattle Roots at Carolyn DownsSeattle · 2.5 mi
4.4 mi
Seattle VA Medical Center (VA Puget Sound Healthcare System)
Seattle · ★★★★★
6.7 mi
Sea Mar Community Health Centers
3 sites · nearest in Seattle
Sea Mar Chc - Seattle 8720 14th Ave. S.Seattle · 6.7 mi
Sea Mar Chc - Seattle 8801 14th Ave SSeattle · 6.8 mi
Sea Mar Chc - Seattle 8915 14th Ave. S.Seattle · 6.9 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary carePart of Seattle is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, North Seattle Service Area · need score 18 of 25
✓ Dental careSeattle is not a shortage area
! Mental healthPart of Seattle is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, SeaTac-Tukwila Service Area · 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 Seattle. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Seattle
| Measure | Seattle | Margin | Washington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 23.6% | 22.2–25% | 30.5% | better |
| High cholesterol | 30.9% | 29.2–32.6% | 34.9% | better |
| Obesity | 22.2% | 20.1–24.4% | 30.6% | better |
| Arthritis | 17% | 15.9–18.1% | 24.4% | better |
| Depression | 25.1% | 23.4–26.9% | 25.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1% | 9% | better |
| Asthma | 9.9% | 9.2–10.7% | 10.7% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 6% | 5.6–6.4% | 7.9% | better |
| Diabetes | 6.1% | 5.5–6.6% | 9.5% | better |
| COPD | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2% | 5.1% | better |
| Heart disease | 3.4% | 3.1–3.6% | 5.4% | better |
| Stroke | 1.9% | 1.8–2.1% | 2.9% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2% | 10.1% | better |
| Binge drink | 19% | 17.5–20.6% | 16.6% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 12.2% | 11.2–13.4% | 17.9% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29% | 26.9–31.1% | 31.8% | better |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 68.3% | 66.3–70.4% | 70.7% | worse |
| Dentist visit | 71.3% | 69.5–73% | 67% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 84.1% | 82.9–85.3% | 84% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.9% | 64.7–69.1% | 66.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 78.2% | 75–81.1% | 74.2% | better |
| Taking BP meds | 64.3% | 62.4–66.3% | 70.7% | worse |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8% | 8.4% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 15.3% | 14.3–16.4% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 11.2% | 10.4–12.1% | 16.3% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 8.8% | 8.2–9.6% | 12.4% | better |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 19.6% | 18.3–21% | 27.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6% | 10.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11.2% | 10.4–12.1% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 4% | 3.7–4.4% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 3% | 2.8–3.2% | 4.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.1% | 1.9–2.2% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 5% | 4.6–5.4% | 6.8% | |
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 Seattle door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Washington figure falls inside it, we don't call Seattle better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Seattle directly, so these are its own figures.
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.