Photo: FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore · CC BY-SA 4.0Vanceburg’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Vanceburg differs from Kentucky on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vanceburg. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vanceburg
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Vanceburg
1 in 6 adults have COPD (17.7%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.7%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 12.5%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Vanceburg runs above Kentucky on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Vanceburg is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Vanceburg is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Vanceburg
45% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 34.7% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Vanceburg, and more people treating it
48% of adults have high blood pressure (Kentucky 38.8%), but 85.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 81.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Vanceburg is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Vanceburg is healthier than 1%. Against the 570 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 20%. Health Grade ↓
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 Kentucky figure falls outside Vanceburg’s likely range.
What’s behind Vanceburg’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vanceburg is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Vanceburg’s estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 22.4% of adults, against 15.2% across Kentucky and 13% nationally.
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). Vanceburg’s median household income is $30,054; among the 570 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Vanceburg compares well: binge drinking, 11.2% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 85.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Vanceburg adults…
Vanceburg runs above KY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Vanceburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Care in and near Vanceburg
1 community health center in Vanceburg, 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 Vanceburg; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky
Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Vanceburg adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Vanceburg runs above Kentucky.
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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
33.3% of Vanceburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Vanceburg and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanceburg | D− | 46.8% | 18.9% | 26.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vanceburg adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vanceburg
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vanceburg is better than Kentucky on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Vanceburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vanceburg | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.3%31.3–37.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.4%20.1–24.9 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.3–22.4 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.8%38.9–55.2 | 38.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.9%16.6–21.5 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48%43.3–52.7 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.7%36.8–46.8 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 41.2%37.2–45.4 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11–14.2 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 12.5%11.3–13.9 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 17.7%16–19.6 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 34.7%29.2–40.2 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 26.5%23.6–29.6 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.8%33.9–44.1 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.2%9–13.8 | 14.2% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%34.9–49.2 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%6.9–12.6 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.8–83.6 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45%41.1–49 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%79.9–85.2 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 85.2%82.8–87.4 | 81.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.7%53.6–63.9 | 65.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.1%61.6–77.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.1%25.1–33.5 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.6%22.1–29.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.3%25.6–31.2 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.8%14.8–18.9 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.4%11.8–15.2 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.1%12.8–15.6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.3%30.1–36.6 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 50.5%45.9–55.3 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.5%25.9–31.4 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.2%21–25.6 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 14.4%12.9–16 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.3%9.4–11.3 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.6%14.2–17.2 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.3%7.6–9.1 | 4.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Kentucky figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Vanceburg
Is Vanceburg a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vanceburg is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vanceburg?
CDC estimates 46.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.9% and 55.2%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vanceburg?
Kings Daughters Medical Center Ohio in Portsmouth, 20.7 miles in a straight line from Vanceburg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Vanceburg have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–12.6%), against 5.4% across Kentucky.
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 Vanceburg more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Vanceburg.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky 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.