Photo: Bonita L. Harless · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, West Jefferson is healthier than 75%
West Jefferson differs from North Carolina on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Jefferson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Jefferson
Heart disease, cancer and COPD run high in West Jefferson
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.2%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.1%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 10.8%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, West Jefferson runs above North Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and heart disease, cancer and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in West Jefferson, and more people treating it
44.5% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 82.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
West Jefferson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, West Jefferson is healthier than 33%. Against the 4,589 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 75%. 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 North Carolina figure falls outside West Jefferson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind West Jefferson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Jefferson is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 16%).
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 Jefferson’s median household income is $46,827; among the 4,589 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 75%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where West Jefferson compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 West Jefferson adults…
West Jefferson runs above NC on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Jefferson is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in West Jefferson as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Jefferson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near West Jefferson
No hospital or community health center in West Jefferson 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 Jefferson; ≈ 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 North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How West Jefferson adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 West Jefferson 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.
12.6% of West Jefferson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
West Jefferson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Jefferson | C | 36.1% | 14.9% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Jefferson | B− | 35.2% | 12.7% | 14.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Jefferson adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Jefferson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Jefferson is better than North Carolina on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside West Jefferson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Jefferson | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.6%19.6–27.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%13.6–18.5 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%27.6–44.7 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.9%12.6–17.2 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.5%39.7–49.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.8%37–46.5 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.8%32.6–40.6 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.1%10.8–13.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%8.8–11.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.8%8.7–13 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.5–6.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18%14.7–21.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%12–18 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.3%23.7–35.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%9.9–14.9 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.1%24.9–37.8 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.8%9.4–14.5 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79–85.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.6%60.9–68.3 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%86.7–90.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.4%79.7–84.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%61.8–71.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70–84 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21–28.9 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31%25.7–36.2 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%16.6–23.7 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%11.6–17.7 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.2%8.4–12.2 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6–8.5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%6.6–9.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.6%9.9–15.4 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.5%34.8–46 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.8%17.2–24.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%13.7–18.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7%5.9–8.3 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%8.8–12.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.4–6.2 | 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 North Carolina figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in West Jefferson
Is West Jefferson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Jefferson is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C 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 West Jefferson?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 44.7%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Jefferson?
Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, 3.4 miles in a straight line from West Jefferson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Jefferson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–14.5%), against 10.4% across North Carolina.
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Carolina 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.