Photo: Orygun · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Altavista is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns
Altavista differs from Virginia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Altavista. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Altavista
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Altavista
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 6.1% across Virginia. In all, Altavista runs above Virginia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Altavista
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.6%), vs 13.1% across Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (10.8% vs 7.1%) and no reliable transportation (10.6% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Altavista adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.6%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Altavista is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Altavista is healthier than 15%. Against the 6,263 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$64K), it’s healthier than 34%. 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 Virginia figure falls outside Altavista’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Altavista’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Altavista is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, #230 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 29% of U.S. towns); diabetes 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). Altavista’s median household income is $51,349; among the 6,263 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$64K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Altavista compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Altavista adults…
Altavista runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.6% of Altavista adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
6.5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Altavista
No hospital or community health center in Altavista 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 Altavista; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Altavista adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Altavista adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Altavista runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Altavista 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.
Altavista and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Altavista adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Altavista
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Altavista is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Altavista’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Altavista | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.8%21.2–28.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.3–18.9 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.1–20.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%30.9–46.9 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8%14.5–19 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%38.8–47.7 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.5–45.6 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%29.8–36.9 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.8–10 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.3–11.8 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.4–5.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.4%15–22.1 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%14.2–20.3 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.6%26.2–37.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.2%9.9–14.7 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%29.8–42.5 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%7.7–11.8 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.7%78.5–84.5 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.3–65.5 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%84.9–88.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.7%78.1–83 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%61.4–71.4 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70.5–83.7 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.7–27 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.3%28.1–38.7 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%18.3–25.5 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.6%16.1–23.3 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.8%12.3–17.4 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.8%9.2–12.6 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.6%9–12.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%16.1–23.4 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.6%33.4–43.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.5%17.5–23.5 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15–19.9 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.5%9.8–13.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 3.5% | 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 Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Altavista
Is Altavista a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Altavista is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #230 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Altavista?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 46.9%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Altavista?
Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital in Bedford, 20.3 miles in a straight line from Altavista’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Altavista have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11.8%), against 8.7% across Virginia.
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 Altavista 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 Altavista.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Virginia 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.