Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Bellwood is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Bellwood differs from Virginia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bellwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bellwood
Making ends meet is harder in Bellwood
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (28%), about twice the Virginia rate. Utility shut-off threats (14.7% vs 7.1%) and housing insecurity (21.6% vs 10.9%) are higher too. 26.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Bellwood
53.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 20.7% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Checkups ↓
More Bellwood adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (35%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
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 Bellwood’s likely range.
What’s behind Bellwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bellwood is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #249 of 253 in Virginia. All seven of Bellwood’s estimates fall in the lowest 14% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 43.8% of adults, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% 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). Bellwood’s median household income is $47,781; among the 4,935 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 12%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Bellwood compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.1% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.3% of Bellwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bellwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
2.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Bellwood adults…
Bellwood runs below VA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bellwood
1 community health center in Bellwood, 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 Bellwood; ≈ 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 Bellwood adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bellwood runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Bellwood 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.
Bellwood and the towns around it
Bellwood’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellwood | D− | 43.8% | 17.1% | 19.2% | CDC place |
| Bensley | D− | 45% | 17.4% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Chester | B | 37.3% | 12.7% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Meadowbrook | C− | 41.6% | 15.8% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bellwood adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bellwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bellwood is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Bellwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bellwood | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.7%25.7–31.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.8–19.6 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.4–22.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.8%38.5–49 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.1%15.2–19 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.8%37.5–44.2 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%36.1–42.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%26.2–31.4 | 26.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.2 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.6–8.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–4.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.7%17.4–24.2 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%16.6–21.8 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35%31–39.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.5%10.4–14.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%35.6–44.1 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.4%14.9–19.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.6–80.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.6%50.4–56.8 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.1–85.2 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.7%73–78.2 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.8%56.7–64.8 | 67.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%68.1–79.7 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%20.2–26.3 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.1%32.5–42 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.6–31.1 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28%24.7–31.4 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.6%18.9–24.4 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.7%12.8–16.7 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.3%12.6–16.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.3%23.2–29.6 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.2%35.3–43.1 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%17.6–21.8 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.5%18.3–22.7 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.6%7.9–9.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%11–13.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 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 Bellwood
Is Bellwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bellwood is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #249 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 12%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bellwood?
CDC estimates 43.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.5% and 49%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bellwood?
CJW Medical Center in Richmond, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Bellwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bellwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.9–19.7%), 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 Bellwood 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 Bellwood.
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.