On CDC estimates, Vail is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Vail beats Colorado on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vail. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vail
Vail is an active town
Only 11.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.7% across Colorado. Habits ↓
Vail has a five-star hospital
Vail Health Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Vail
Vail runs below Colorado on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.7% vs 5.3%), diabetes (6.1% vs 8.6%) and stroke (2% vs 2.7%). Conditions ↓
Nearly everyone in Vail is insured
Only 7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.1% across Colorado. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Colorado figure falls outside Vail’s likely range.
What’s behind Vail’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vail is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #12 of 159 in Colorado. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 87%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Vail’s median household income is $98,893; among the 8,753 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$124K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
7.6 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Care in and near Vail
1 hospital in Vail, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Vail; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Vail adults…
Vail runs below CO on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Vail adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
How Vail adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Vail and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vail | A+ | 21.2% | 6.1% | 7.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vail adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vail
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vail is better than Colorado on 14 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Vail’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vail | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.2%8.5–12 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.1%7.8–10.5 | 11.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.4–16.3 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.2%15.9–27.2 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.1%5.1–7.1 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 21.5%18.4–24.7 | 27% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.6%24.9–32.5 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.6%17–22.3 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.6 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.7%3.1–4.4 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.8–2.3 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.4%3.5–5.5 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.8%6.2–9.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 11.5%9.1–14.3 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.1%18.4–26.1 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.6%21.1–32.2 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.7–8.4 | 11.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.4%66.1–74.5 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.7%69.5–75.8 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%84.5–88.4 | 85.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.3%63.5–70.9 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%64.3–73.6 | 62.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%67.6–82.5 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18–24.9 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.7%17.4–24.3 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.9%5.7–8.1 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.2%4.5–5.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.6%2.3–3 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.8%4.1–5.5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.9%1.7–2.2 | 2.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Vail
Is Vail a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vail is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #12 of 159 in Colorado. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vail?
CDC estimates 21.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 15.9% and 27.2%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vail?
Vail Health Hospital in Vail, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Vail’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Vail have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–8.4%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Vail more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Vail.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.