Washington

State Office of Rural Health

Washington State Office of Rural Health

Phone: 360.236.2800
Email: ruralhealth@doh.wa.gov

Supports rural and underserved communities in the state of Washington by providing assistance and resources for health systems planning and development to improve health and access to healthcare.
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Washington Nonmetro Population

7,688,549

Estimated population

781,667 (10.2%)

People living in nonmetro areas

Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-year estimate

Washington Rural Healthcare Facilities

39

Critical Access Hospitals

0

Rural Emergency Hospitals

129

Rural Health Clinics

89

Federally Qualified Health Centers*

7

Short Term/PPS Hospitals*

*Sites according to data.HRSA.gov (July 2024), showing only locations outside of U.S. Census Bureau Urban Areas with a population of 50,000 or more

Selected Social Determinants of Health for Rural Washington

6.0% of Washington residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2022). According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per capita income for Washingtonians in 2021 was $73,775, with the rural per capita income at $53,597. The ERS reports, based on 2021 ACS data, that the poverty rate in rural Washington is 12.8%, compared with 9.6% in urban areas of the state. 10.0% of the rural population has not completed high school, while 7.9% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma according to 2017-2021 ACS data reported by ERS. The unemployment rate in rural Washington is 5.8%, while in urban Washington it is 4.1% (USDA-ERS, 2022).