Photo: AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Bristol is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Bristol trails Virginia on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bristol. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bristol
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Bristol
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.3% across Virginia. In all, Bristol runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Bristol
61.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 19.7% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Bristol
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (18.1%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Bristol is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bristol is healthier than 14%. Against the 5,937 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 34%. Health Grade ↓
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 Bristol’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Bristol’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns, #231 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 25% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Bristol’s median household income is $50,404; among the 5,937 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Bristol adults…
Bristol runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bristol 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.
20 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Bristol
1 community health center in Bristol, 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 Bristol; ≈ 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 Bristol adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bristol runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Bristol 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.
17.1% of Bristol adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Bristol and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | D | 39.4% | 15% | 18.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bristol adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bristol
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bristol is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Bristol’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bristol | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.3%21.3–27.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.1–19.1 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.6–21.1 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%30.9–48.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%13.1–17.1 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41%36.6–45.5 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.6–45.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.7%30–37.4 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–13 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.7%16.6–23 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15.6–20.8 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%25.5–35.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.1–16.5 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%29.8–43.5 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%8.4–11.7 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.9–82.8 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%57.6–64.6 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.9–87.4 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.6–81.8 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%60–69.8 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%65.2–80.4 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.1%22.3–30.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%27.9–38.7 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%17.7–24.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.1%14.7–19.7 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.6–14.2 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%7.8–10.4 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.1%14.8–19.7 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39%34.3–43.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%17.3–22 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%16.1–20.4 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.3–10.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10–12.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 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 Bristol
Is Bristol a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #231 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bristol?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 48.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bristol?
Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, 5.9 miles in a straight line from Bristol’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bristol have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–11.7%), 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 Bristol more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bristol.
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.