Crabtree-Blackwell Farm · Photo: Rutke421 00:32, 25 April 2011 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Emory is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Emory differs from Virginia on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Emory. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Emory
Mental distress runs high in Emory
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (22%), vs 15.9% across Virginia. Depression is above the state too: 28.3%, vs 21.8% across Virginia. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Emory doesn’t win on
18.8% of adults binge drink, vs 14.5% across Virginia, even though fewer of them smoke. Habits ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Emory’s lead shrinks
Emory is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but 66% of the 6,894 towns with similar household incomes ($84K–$140K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Emory
Emory runs below Virginia on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (6.4% vs 12.5%), stroke (1.9% vs 3.3%) and heart disease (3.7% vs 6.1%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Emory’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Emory’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Emory is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Emory’s median household income is $111,667; among the 6,894 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($84K–$140K), it’s healthier than 66%, about where its income would put it.
How Emory adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Emory runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Emory 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
Out of every 100 Emory adults…
Emory runs below VA on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Emory residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Emory
No hospital or community health center in Emory 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 Emory; ≈ 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 Emory adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.6% of Emory adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Emory and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emory | A− | 30% | 6.4% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Meadowview | — | — | — | — |
Meadowview: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Emory adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Emory
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Emory is better than Virginia on 10 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Emory’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Emory | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.1%11.3–18.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.7%9–12.8 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22%18–25.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30%23.7–36.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 21.8%19.1–24.6 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27%23.9–30.4 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 15.9%14–17.8 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.4%9.9–13.1 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%3.8–5.4 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.6%12.6–18.9 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5%7.4–12 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%15.3–25.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.3–22.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%28.9–41.2 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%5.4–11.7 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73%67.9–77.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%61.8–69.1 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.8%69.4–80.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.7%62.1–67.3 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%60.1–69.7 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.6%70.6–83.7 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.3%24.1–32.4 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 42.6%36.2–49.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%18.3–27.7 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.1%7.7–16.2 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%6.2–11 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%3.9–6.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%6.2–10.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.6%5.3–11.1 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%24.3–37 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8%6.7–9.4 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%14.8–24.4 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%2.9–4.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%6.5–11.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.9–2.5 | 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 Emory
Is Emory a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Emory is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 66%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Emory?
CDC estimates 30% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.7% and 36.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Emory?
Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, 11.1 miles in a straight line from Emory’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Emory have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–11.7%), 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 Emory 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 Emory.
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.