Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Appalachia’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Appalachia trails Virginia on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Appalachia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Appalachia
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Appalachia
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.3%), more than twice the Virginia rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.1%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Stroke is also above the state: 5.4%, vs 3.3% across Virginia. In all, Appalachia runs above Virginia on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Appalachia
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (25.4%), about twice the Virginia rate. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Appalachia
50.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 27.3% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). 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 Virginia figure falls outside Appalachia’s likely range.
What’s behind Appalachia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Appalachia is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Appalachia’s estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 25.4% of adults, against 12.2% across Virginia and 11.8% nationally.
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). Appalachia’s median household income is $43,068; among the 3,360 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Appalachia adults…
Appalachia runs above VA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
1.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Appalachia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Appalachia
1 community health center in Appalachia, 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 Appalachia; ≈ 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).
How Appalachia adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Appalachia runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Appalachia 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.
27.3% of Appalachia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Appalachia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachia | D− | 47.4% | 18% | 25.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Appalachia adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Appalachia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Appalachia is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Appalachia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Appalachia | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31%26.2–36.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18–23.8 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23%20.2–25.9 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47.4%39.8–56.2 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18%15.5–20.6 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.4%40.1–49 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%37–46.1 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.3%31.6–39.2 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.2–14.4 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.6–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.3%12–16.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.3%23.2–31.9 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.4%21.1–29.9 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.5%31.4–43.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%10.6–16.4 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%31.7–44.7 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%9.5–16.4 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%73.9–81.5 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.5%46.8–54.2 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%78.3–84.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.2–79.9 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.7%53.5–64.1 | 67.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.7%60.4–76.6 | 78.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.7%25.7–34.4 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.4%32–43 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%18.4–26.3 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.3%20.1–30.8 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.6%13.5–20 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%10.8–15.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.3%11.1–15.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%21.9–32.9 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.1%39.1–51.1 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.5%20–27 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.3%19.9–26.9 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.7–11.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%7.7–10.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15%12.6–17.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.2–8.5 | 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 Appalachia
Is Appalachia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Appalachia is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Appalachia?
CDC estimates 47.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.8% and 56.2%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Appalachia?
Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Appalachia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Appalachia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.5–16.4%), 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 Appalachia 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 Appalachia.
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.