Photo: Corvokarasu at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Emporia is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Emporia differs from Virginia on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Emporia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Emporia
Dental care lags in Emporia
52.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 22.2% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Emporia’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Emporia
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.2%, vs 12.5% across Virginia. In all, Emporia runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Emporia adults get no exercise
36.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Emporia has a top-rated hospital
Bon Secours Southern 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 Emporia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Emporia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Emporia is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #248 of 253 in Virginia. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 15% of U.S. towns); diabetes 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). Emporia’s median household income is $51,899; among the 6,421 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Emporia compares well: binge drinking, 10.6% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Emporia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Out of every 100 Emporia adults…
Emporia runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Emporia
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Emporia, 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 Emporia; ≈ 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 Emporia adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Emporia runs above Virginia.
2 in 5 Emporia 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.
28% of Emporia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Emporia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia | D− | 44.6% | 20.2% | 18.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Emporia adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Emporia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Emporia is better than Virginia on 2 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Emporia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Emporia | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.1%26.4–33.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.7–20.2 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%17–21.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.6%35.5–53.9 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.2%17.7–22.9 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.9%43.3–52.5 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.9%35.3–44.7 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%29.6–37 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.5–14.7 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.2%18.3–26.1 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%16.1–21.8 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.6%31–42.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.6%8.5–13.1 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.8%37.4–52.3 | 36% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.2%10.8–15.9 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%79.1–85.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.5%48.4–56.3 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.4–88.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78.6–83.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%60.9–70.7 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%67.2–82 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%17.9–25.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.6%33–44.4 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.6%24.7–32.9 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.7%24.8–32.6 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.8%18.9–24.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.3%13.3–17.2 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.5%12.7–16.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28%24.2–31.7 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.2%37.1–47.5 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.7%20.7–26.7 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%17.1–21.9 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.6–14.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.2–7.9 | 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 Emporia
Is Emporia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Emporia is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #248 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Emporia?
CDC estimates 44.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 53.9%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Emporia?
Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center in Emporia, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Emporia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Emporia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–15.9%), 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 Emporia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Emporia.
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.