Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWithin Virginia, Blue Ridge is healthier than 43% of graded towns
Blue Ridge differs from Virginia on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Blue Ridge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Blue Ridge
Cancer and arthritis run high in Blue Ridge
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 7.7% across Virginia. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.4%), vs 26.2% across Virginia. In all, Blue Ridge runs above Virginia on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Blue Ridge adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Virginia. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Blue Ridge’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Blue Ridge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Blue Ridge is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns, #146 of 253 in Virginia. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 69% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Blue Ridge’s median household income is $75,871; among the 10,835 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 71%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Blue Ridge adults…
Blue Ridge runs above VA on 3 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.
7.6% of Blue Ridge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Care in and near Blue Ridge
No hospital or community health center in Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge; ≈ 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 Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Blue Ridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Blue Ridge adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
3 in 10 Blue Ridge 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.
Blue Ridge and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge | B | 35.6% | 12.8% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Laymantown | B+ | 34.4% | 12.7% | 12.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Blue Ridge adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Blue Ridge
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Blue Ridge is better than Virginia on 8 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Blue Ridge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Blue Ridge | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%14.5–20.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12–16.1 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.7–18 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%28.3–43.8 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.9%34.4–43.5 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%37–46 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%27.8–35.3 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.4–11.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.2–8.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.2–8.9 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.4%9.5–13.7 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.1%10.4–16 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%18.7–27.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.2–17.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%28.3–39.2 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5–8.5 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.6–84 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.4%68.6–74.2 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.6%88–91.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%77.3–82.9 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.3%66.1–74.3 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%70.1–82.3 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.6–28.1 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.5%24.9–34.4 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.1%15.9–22.7 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%7.3–11.5 | 13.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.9%6.3–9.5 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.3–6.2 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.7–6.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.6%5.8–9.4 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.3%26.5–36.1 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.7%12.2–17.3 | 13.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%11.5–15.7 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.6–4.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.4–8.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Blue Ridge
Is Blue Ridge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Blue Ridge is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #146 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 71%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Blue Ridge?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 43.8%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Blue Ridge?
Carilion Medical Center in Roanoke, 11.0 miles in a straight line from Blue Ridge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Blue Ridge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–8.5%), 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 Blue Ridge more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Blue Ridge.
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.