Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Wheelwright is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Wheelwright trails Kentucky on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wheelwright. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wheelwright
Wheelwright is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Wheelwright is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Wheelwright
45.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Kentucky. Among those 65 and older, 34% have lost all their teeth (Kentucky 18.9%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Wheelwright
1 in 6 adults have COPD (15.9%), vs 10.2% across Kentucky. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.6%), vs 4% across Kentucky. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 8.2% across Kentucky. In all, Wheelwright runs above Kentucky on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Wheelwright’s likely range.
What’s behind Wheelwright’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wheelwright is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Wheelwright’s estimates fall in the lowest 15% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 27.3% of adults, against 18.5% across Kentucky and 11.8% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wheelwright adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.
Out of every 100 Wheelwright adults…
Wheelwright runs above KY on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wheelwright
No hospital or community health center in Wheelwright 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 Wheelwright; ≈ 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 Wheelwright adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Wheelwright 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.
24.5% of Wheelwright adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.
Wheelwright and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelwright | D− | 41.3% | 17.3% | 27.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wheelwright adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wheelwright
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wheelwright is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Wheelwright’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wheelwright | KY | U.S. | vs KY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.9%30–36 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%19–23.5 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%19.2–23.5 | 17.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.3%34.1–48.7 | 38.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.3%15.2–19.7 | 13.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.1%40.4–49.8 | 38.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.9–44.9 | 36.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38.5%34.6–42.5 | 32.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.3–14.5 | 11.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.5%9.5–11.7 | 8.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15.9%14.3–17.5 | 10.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 34%28.9–39.4 | 18.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.3%24.4–30.5 | 18.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.4%31.5–41.4 | 26.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.5–14.7 | 14.2% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.6%39.8–53.5 | 39.6% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7–12.2 | 5.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.3–82.4 | 78.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.5%41.7–49.4 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.7%77.8–83.6 | 84.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.8%79.1–84.5 | 81.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.7%51.4–61.9 | 65.8% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.2%58.3–75.3 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.8%27.6–36.2 | 26.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%20.6–27.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.4%19.9–24.9 | 15.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.6%13.8–17.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12%10.4–13.6 | 8.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12%10.8–13.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.5%21.7–27.3 | 14.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.9%43.2–52.6 | 37.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.6%22.2–27.2 | 17.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.5%21.3–25.9 | 17.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.7%10.5–13.1 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8.4–10 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.1%12.8–15.5 | 9.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.5–7.8 | 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 Wheelwright
Is Wheelwright a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wheelwright is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wheelwright?
CDC estimates 41.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 48.7%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wheelwright?
Mcdowell ARH Hospital in Mc Dowell, 7.1 miles in a straight line from Wheelwright’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Wheelwright have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–12.2%), 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 Wheelwright 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 Wheelwright.
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.