James City Historic District · Photo: Graham, William E. · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Brightwood is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Brightwood differs from Virginia on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brightwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brightwood
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Brightwood
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.7% across Virginia. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6.1% across Virginia. In all, Brightwood runs above Virginia on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Brightwood
62% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 14.4% 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 Brightwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Brightwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brightwood is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 50% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Brightwood’s median household income is $70,625; among the 10,563 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Brightwood compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Brightwood adults…
Brightwood runs above VA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Brightwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Brightwood
No hospital or community health center in Brightwood 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 Brightwood; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Brightwood adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Brightwood 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.
10% of Brightwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Brightwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brightwood | C+ | 38.3% | 13.9% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brightwood adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brightwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brightwood is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Brightwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brightwood | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%16.6–24.6 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13–18.2 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%14.7–19.8 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%29.5–47.7 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%11.7–16.3 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.2%34.5–44.1 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.4%37.4–47.5 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33%28.9–37.3 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.8–13 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.7–9.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.2–10.9 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%11.8–17.2 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2%11.9–18.9 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.6%20.5–31.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.2–17.2 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.2%28.6–42.4 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%5.9–10.2 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%76.4–83.6 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.3–65.7 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.3–90.2 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.1–83.1 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.1–71.4 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.5%65.4–80.8 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%21.2–29.6 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27.2–37.7 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%16.4–23.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.7%9–14.7 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.1%7.3–11.1 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%4.9–7.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.5–8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%7.6–12.6 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.7%28.4–39.6 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%13.5–20 | 13.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%12.9–18.3 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7–9.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.1–5.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.3–10.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.3–4.9 | 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 Brightwood
Is Brightwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brightwood is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brightwood?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.5% and 47.7%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brightwood?
UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center in Culpeper, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Brightwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brightwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–10.2%), 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 Brightwood more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Brightwood.
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.