Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Virginia is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Virginia differs from Minnesota on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Virginia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Virginia
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Virginia
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.1% across Minnesota. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.3%, vs 5.9% across Minnesota. In all, Virginia runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Virginia
56.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.5% across Minnesota. Among those 65 and older, 16.1% have lost all their teeth (Minnesota 8.9%). Checkups ↓
Every town around Virginia scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Virginia’s C−, from Eveleth (C+) to Mountain Iron (B). Around town ↓
More high blood pressure in Virginia, and more people treating it
37.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 80.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Virginia is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Virginia is healthier than 16%. Against the 6,363 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 35%. 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 Minnesota figure falls outside Virginia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Virginia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Virginia is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 35% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Virginia’s median household income is $51,720; among the 6,363 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most Minnesota towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Virginia is healthier than 0% of graded towns, against 16% nationally.
Where Virginia compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Virginia adults…
Virginia runs above MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Virginia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Virginia and the towns around it
Virginia’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | C− | 39.1% | 14.5% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Mountain Iron | B | 35.5% | 12.4% | 15.7% | CDC place |
| Gilbert | B− | 37.6% | 12.5% | 17.4% | CDC place |
| Wuori Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Eveleth | C+ | 38.1% | 12.3% | 18.5% | CDC place |
| Biwabik Township | — | — | — | — |
Wuori Township and Biwabik Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Virginia
1 hospital in Virginia, 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 Virginia; ≈ 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 Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Virginia adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Virginia runs above Minnesota.
1 in 3 Virginia adults feel lonely. 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.
16.4% of Virginia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Virginia adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Virginia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Virginia is better than Minnesota on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Virginia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Virginia | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.2%21.3–27.5 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.6 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.7–20.2 | 15.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.1%33.8–44.5 | 33.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.5%12.6–16.7 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%34.2–41.5 | 31% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%31.1–38.4 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%27.1–33.4 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.3–10.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.1%13.4–18.9 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.6%17.8–23.6 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%26.9–35.4 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14–19.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%31.2–38.9 | 29.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.4%7.7–11.1 | 7.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%72.4–79 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.5%53.3–59.5 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%81.4–85.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.3–82.8 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%62.4–70.2 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%69.2–80.4 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%22.4–29.4 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%30.1–37.7 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%20.1–26.1 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.9%15.5–20.6 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.4–13.9 | 9.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.6–12.3 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.4%14.1–18.8 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.3%34.2–42.7 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.1%16.8–21.8 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.6–18.8 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6–7.5 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.6–12.4 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.8–6 | 3.1% | 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 Minnesota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Virginia
Is Virginia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Virginia is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Virginia?
CDC estimates 39.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 44.5%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Virginia?
Essentia Health Northern Pines Medical Center in Aurora, 13.5 miles in a straight line from Virginia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Virginia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11.1%), against 7.5% across Minnesota.
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 Virginia 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 Virginia.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota 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.