On CDC estimates, West Van Lear is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns
West Van Lear beats Kentucky on 1 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Van Lear. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind West Van Lear’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Van Lear is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 48% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). West Van Lear’s median household income is $66,815; among the 10,181 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 West Van Lear adults…
On every condition, West Van Lear is about the same as Kentucky. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of West Van Lear residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Kentucky. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near West Van Lear
No hospital or community health center in West Van Lear itself. These are the nearest.
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 West Van Lear; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Van Lear adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
How West Van Lear adults are doing
About the same as Kentucky 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.3% of West Van Lear adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
West Van Lear and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Van Lear | C | 38.6% | 13% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Van Lear | — | — | — | — |
Van Lear: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Van Lear adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Van Lear
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Van Lear is better than Kentucky on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside West Van Lear’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Van Lear | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.4%19.1–24 | 22.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.6–17.2 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.5–19.2 | 17.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%30.8–46.9 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.2–14.9 | 13.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.8%35–45 | 38.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%32.6–43.3 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.6%29.7–37.6 | 32.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.3–8.9 | 8.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.2%9.2–11.3 | 10.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%12.8–19.3 | 18.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.6–21.4 | 18.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%21.8–30.5 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11–17 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.8%33.7–48.4 | 39.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%4.8–8.5 | 5.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.2–82.5 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60%56.1–63.8 | 58.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%82.9–88.3 | 84.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.8%78.5–84.8 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%62.6–72.4 | 65.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%64.6–80.7 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%23.8–32.2 | 26.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.1%19–25.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%12.2–15.4 | 15.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.7–12.5 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 8.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.4–9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.3%11.7–14.9 | 14.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.8%31.4–40.5 | 37.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.6–18.6 | 17.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.7–18.5 | 17.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%8–9.8 | 9.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.4 | 4.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 West Van Lear
Is West Van Lear a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Van Lear is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Van Lear?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 46.9%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Van Lear?
Paintsville ARH Hospital in Paintsville, 2.7 miles in a straight line from West Van Lear’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Van Lear have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.8–8.5%), 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 West Van Lear more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Van Lear.
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.