Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Charlottesville is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Charlottesville differs from Virginia on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Charlottesville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Charlottesville
Heart disease and cancer are less common in Charlottesville
Charlottesville runs below Virginia on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.3% vs 6.1%), cancer (5.5% vs 7.7%) and diabetes (9% vs 12.5%). Conditions ↓
Getting around is a barrier for more Charlottesville adults
1 in 10 adults lack reliable transportation (9.9%), vs 7.4% across Virginia. Everyday needs ↓
Charlottesville has a top-rated hospital
University of Virginia Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Charlottesville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Charlottesville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charlottesville is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #121 of 253 in Virginia. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 91% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Charlottesville’s median household income is $74,824; among the 10,850 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$94K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Most Virginia towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Charlottesville is healthier than 52% of graded towns, against 74% nationally.
Out of every 100 Charlottesville adults…
Charlottesville runs below VA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Charlottesville
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Charlottesville, 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 Charlottesville; ≈ 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).
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 Charlottesville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
23 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Charlottesville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Charlottesville adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Charlottesville runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Charlottesville 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.
Charlottesville and the towns around it
Charlottesville’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | B+ | 32.4% | 9% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| University of Virginia | A | 20.4% | 3.3% | 7.1% | CDC place |
| Pantops | A+ | 24.9% | 9.2% | 6.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Charlottesville adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Charlottesville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Charlottesville is better than Virginia on 8 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Charlottesville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Charlottesville | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.1%14.9–19.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10–12.8 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.7–21.2 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.4%25.3–40 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9%7.8–10.3 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.4%24.1–31 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.7%27.9–35.6 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.5%17.2–22 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5%4.4–5.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.5–12.3 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.3%18.5–26.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.5–19.9 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8%28.7–41.1 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.2–10 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%71.8–79.6 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.9%61.6–68 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.6%78.2–83 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.8%66.2–71.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%64.7–73.4 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%70–83.3 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.8–29.3 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%32.1–42.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.9–24.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%13.4–18.2 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10.2–13.7 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7.1–9.5 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.8–11.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.8%11.9–16.1 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9%25.8–34.1 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%9–11.7 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.8–18.7 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5%4.5–5.6 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Charlottesville
Is Charlottesville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charlottesville is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #121 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Charlottesville?
CDC estimates 32.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 40%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Charlottesville?
University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Charlottesville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Charlottesville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10%), 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 Charlottesville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Charlottesville.
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.