Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bracey is healthier than 64%
Bracey differs from Virginia on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bracey. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bracey
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Bracey
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.8%), vs 7.7% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.7%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. COPD is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 6.2% across Virginia. In all, Bracey runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 42% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Bracey is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bracey is healthier than 45%. Against the 9,854 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
Bracey is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Bracey’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Bracey, and more people treating it
45.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Virginia 35.4%), but 83.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Bracey keeps up with checkups
It beats Virginia on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (83.6% vs 79.2%) and cholesterol checks (91.7% vs 87.5%). 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 Bracey’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Bracey’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bracey is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 88% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Bracey’s median household income is $64,605; among the 9,854 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Bracey compares well: binge drinking, 11.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.6% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 91.7% (U.S. 87.1%).
Out of every 100 Bracey adults…
Bracey runs above VA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Bracey is an older town: 42% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Bracey as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Bracey
No hospital or community health center in Bracey 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 Bracey; ≈ 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 Bracey 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.
How Bracey adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
3 in 10 Bracey 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.
8.8% of Bracey adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Bracey and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bracey | B− | 36.8% | 16.5% | 13.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bracey adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bracey
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bracey is better than Virginia on 9 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Bracey’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bracey | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%17.2–23.6 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.7–18.2 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.8%30–43.9 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.5%14.3–19 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.6%41.2–50.1 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 46.7%42.1–51.2 | 38% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.4%34.5–42.6 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.8%11.6–14.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.7%8.6–11.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%8.1–11.2 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.7–14.2 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%11.2–16.2 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%21.2–30.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.6–14.3 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%28.7–40.7 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%5.8–9 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.6%80.7–86.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70%66.7–73.2 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.7%90.3–92.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.6%80.9–86.1 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.9%69.5–78 | 67.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.5–82.3 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.3–26.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.6%25.2–34.7 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.2%16.2–22.8 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.2%8.3–12.3 | 13.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%6.8–9.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.9%5.1–6.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.8%7.2–10.8 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.9%29.3–38.8 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%15.5–21.3 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11.2–15 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 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 Bracey
Is Bracey a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bracey is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bracey?
CDC estimates 36.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30% and 43.9%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bracey?
Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, 12.9 miles in a straight line from Bracey’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bracey have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–9%), 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 Bracey more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bracey.
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.