Whatcom County
WashingtonFIPS 53073
Pop. 226,8471 HospitalSVI 0.50RUCC 3 (Metro)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Whatcom County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 8.8% | 9.3% | ▼ |
| Adult Obesity | 28.2% | 34.7% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 7.8% | 9.0% | ▼ |
| PCPs per 10K | 9.4 | 6.6 | ▼ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 6,158.732 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
224
Primary Care Physicians
96.6 per 100k
296
NPs & PAs
127.6 per 100k
185
Dentists
274
Hospital Beds
1.2 per 1,000
$10,331.6
Medicare Per Capita
1463.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Whatcom County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 9.0% | — | |
| Obesity | 27.0% | — | |
| Depression | 29.7% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.0% | — | |
| COPD | 5.7% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 11.3% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 5.9% | — | |
| Stroke | 3.1% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 29.3% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 16.7% | — | |
| Disability | 30.1% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 17.0% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 17.6% | — | |
| Uninsured | 7.7% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Whatcom's 1 hospital.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.50
Socioeconomic Status0.42
Household Composition & Disability0.11
Minority Status & Language0.58
Housing Type & Transportation0.87
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
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Primary Care
Designated Shortage Area
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Dental Health
Designated Shortage Area
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Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Whatcom County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peacehealth St Joseph Medical Center | Bellingham | 253 |
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.