Polk County Health Data
Polk County, Oregon
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
69/100
Average
Life Expectancy
79.0 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.3%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
79.0 yr
State avg 77.0 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.3%
State avg 8.1%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
57
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
317
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
18.8%
State avg 18.8%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
10.2
per 100K residentsCDC: 57.2 per 100K
Dentists
7.9
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
9.0
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Polk County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 33.4% | 35.5% | 37.6% | 2.1 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 9.6% | 10.1% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 28.6% | 30.2% | 33.5% | 1.6 pts better than state |
| Depression | 27.8% | 27.9% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 12.6% | 14.0% | 16.3% | 1.4 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 16.1% | 17.4% | 17.8% | 1.3 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 19.6% | 21.1% | 27.0% | 1.5 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 69.3% | 70.1% | 74.9% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 60.3% | 61.7% | 57.3% | 1.4 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 75.6% | 75.1% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.5% | 19.4% | 18.6% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 34.6% | 32.8% | 37.3% | 1.8 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Polk County nationally on obesity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Polk County Uninsured Rate Falls Below State and National Benchmarks
Health data brief for Polk County, Oregon.
Polk County reports an uninsured rate of 7.3%, which is lower than the Oregon state average of 8.1% and the national average of 10%. Life expectancy in the county is 79.0 years, higher than the state figure of 77.0 years and the national average of 77 years. The county records 57 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, a number lower than the national median of 70 per 100,000. For mental health care, the provider ratio is 317 per 100,000, which is higher than the national median of 250. Approximately 18.8% of residents report being in poor or fair health, compared to the national benchmark of 17%. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Polk County, Oregon
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Salem Health West Valley Hospital
EReHealth Insurance
Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for Polk County residents.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the health ranking of Polk County, OR?
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How does Polk County health compare to the Oregon average?
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Why is Polk County healthier than the Oregon average?
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.