Watauga Hydroelectric Project · Photo: Parker1297 · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Valley Forge is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Valley Forge differs from Tennessee on 16 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Valley Forge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Valley Forge
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Valley Forge
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.7%), vs 8.6% across Tennessee. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.7%), vs 7% across Tennessee. Stroke is also above the state: 5.3%, vs 3.7% across Tennessee. In all, Valley Forge runs above Tennessee on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Valley Forge is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Valley Forge is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Valley Forge
50.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 20.4% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Valley Forge, and more people treating it
48.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Tennessee 39.5%), but 79.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.2% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Tennessee figure falls outside Valley Forge’s likely range.
What’s behind Valley Forge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Valley Forge is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 26% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Valley Forge’s median household income is $54,631; among the 7,310 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Valley Forge compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Valley Forge adults…
Valley Forge runs above TN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Valley Forge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.
Care in and near Valley Forge
No hospital or community health center in Valley Forge 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 Valley Forge; ≈ 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 Tennessee
Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Valley Forge adults are doing
About the same as Tennessee 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.
20% of Valley Forge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.
Valley Forge and the towns around it
Valley Forge’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Forge | D− | 39.3% | 18% | 22.9% | CDC place |
| Hampton | D | 39.1% | 17.2% | 22.8% | CDC place |
| Elizabethton | D | 36.3% | 14.4% | 19.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Valley Forge adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Valley Forge
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Valley Forge is better than Tennessee on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Valley Forge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Valley Forge | TN | U.S. | vs TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.5%25.5–33.5 | 22.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.4–22.4 | 14.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.7–22.6 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.3%31.6–47.1 | 37.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18%15.7–20.6 | 13.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.4%43.8–53 | 39.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 46.5%41.8–51.2 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 40.6%36.7–44.7 | 30.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.8 | 11% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.8–12 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.7%9.5–12 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.7%11.8–15.7 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.4%17–24.3 | 14.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.9%19.3–26.5 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.3%28.9–40 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.5%10–15.2 | 14.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%36.9–50.5 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%10.3–15.6 | 11.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.7–82.6 | 78.1% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.6%46.7–54.7 | 58.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85–88.7 | 86.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%76.8–82.4 | 76.2% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%57.8–68.4 | 63.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%64.6–80.2 | 75.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.2%26.9–35.5 | 28.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.8–30 | 27.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.4%17.3–21.4 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.6–14.7 | 13.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 9.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20%17.8–22.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46%40.8–51.2 | 35.8% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.9%20.7–27.1 | 16.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.9%17.4–22.7 | 17.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.4 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 9.5% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 4.1% | 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 Tennessee figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Valley Forge
Is Valley Forge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Valley Forge is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Valley Forge?
CDC estimates 39.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 47.1%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Valley Forge?
Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton, 4.1 miles in a straight line from Valley Forge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Valley Forge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–15.6%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.
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 Valley Forge more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Valley Forge.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee 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.