Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Buena Vista is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns
Buena Vista trails Virginia on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buena Vista. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buena Vista
COPD, heart disease and depression run high in Buena Vista
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.8%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Depression is also above the state: 26.9%, vs 21.8% across Virginia. In all, Buena Vista runs above Virginia on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Buena Vista
62.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 16.2% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Buena Vista
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.8%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Buena Vista is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Buena Vista is healthier than 27%. Against the 8,273 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 45%. 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 Buena Vista’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Buena Vista’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buena Vista is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #213 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 45% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Buena Vista’s median household income is $57,833; among the 8,273 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 45%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Buena Vista adults…
Buena Vista runs above VA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buena Vista 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.
12 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Buena Vista
1 community health center in Buena Vista, 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 Buena Vista; ≈ 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 Buena Vista adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Buena Vista runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Buena Vista 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.
13.8% of Buena Vista adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Buena Vista and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista | C | 36.8% | 13.3% | 15.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buena Vista adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buena Vista
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buena Vista is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Buena Vista’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buena Vista | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%19–25.6 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.9–18 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.2–22.1 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.8%28.7–45.4 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.5–15.1 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.7%32.7–40.8 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34.3–42.8 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.8%26.6–33.1 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.8–8.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%7.8–10.4 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.2%12.7–20.4 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8%13.2–18.6 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%23.2–32.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.2–18 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%26.6–44 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.7–11.8 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%74–81.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.4%58.1–67 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.1%80.6–85.4 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.3%74.6–79.6 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%61–73.6 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%66–84 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.9%23–31 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%30.2–41.5 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.1%17.7–25.1 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.4%12.6–18.5 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.3%9.3–13.4 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.5–9 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.1%7.8–10.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.8%11.3–16.6 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6%32.8–42.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.2%14.8–19.7 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16–21.1 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.4–9.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.2–12.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%3.9–5 | 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 Buena Vista
Is Buena Vista a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buena Vista is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #213 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 45%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Buena Vista?
CDC estimates 36.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 45.4%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Buena Vista?
Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Buena Vista’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Buena Vista have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–11.8%), 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista.
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.