Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ferrum is healthier than 98%
Ferrum differs from Virginia on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ferrum. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ferrum
Dental care lags in Ferrum
61% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 23.3% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Ferrum’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Mental distress runs high in Ferrum
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (22.2%), vs 15.9% across Virginia. Depression is above the state too: 27.2%, vs 21.8% across Virginia. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Ferrum doesn’t win on
18.8% of adults binge drink, vs 14.5% across Virginia. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Ferrum is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ferrum is healthier than 67%. Against the 2,510 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 98%. 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 Ferrum’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Ferrum’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ferrum is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of U.S. towns); 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). Ferrum’s median household income is $40,435; among the 2,510 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 98%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ferrum adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Ferrum adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Ferrum runs above Virginia.
2 in 5 Ferrum 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 Ferrum adults…
Ferrum runs below VA on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Ferrum residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Ferrum
1 community health center in Ferrum, 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 Ferrum; ≈ 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.
13.2% of Ferrum adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Ferrum and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrum | B+ | 29.3% | 8.4% | 12.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ferrum adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ferrum
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ferrum is better than Virginia on 7 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Ferrum’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ferrum | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%15.7–23 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%10.6–14.7 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.2%19–25.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.3%22.7–36.1 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.3–9.6 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25%21.9–28.1 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.5%26–33.2 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.9%15.8–19.9 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–13 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.2–7.3 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.3%19.4–27.6 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%10.3–15.6 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.8%19.2–29.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.4–22.3 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%30.9–43 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%8.1–14.6 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.4%67.7–76.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61%57.3–64.6 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74%69.1–78.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.3%64–68.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%60–69.4 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.9%58.5–74.7 | 78.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%23.1–31.5 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39.8%34.3–45.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19–27.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.7%13–21.1 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%9.6–14.3 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.3%6.2–8.7 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%8.9–13.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.2%10.4–16.3 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.4%28.9–40.9 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9.3–12.7 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%17.3–25.5 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5–6.6 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.4–6.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.5–12.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.7–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Ferrum
Is Ferrum a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ferrum is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ferrum?
CDC estimates 29.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.7% and 36.1%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ferrum?
Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount, 7.0 miles in a straight line from Ferrum’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ferrum have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–14.6%), 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 Ferrum more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ferrum.
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.