Woods Hill · Photo: Kingrichard4867 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Franklin is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Franklin differs from Virginia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Franklin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Franklin
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Franklin
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.8%, vs 12.5% across Virginia. In all, Franklin runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Franklin
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.4%), about twice the Virginia rate. Utility shut-off threats (14.2% vs 7.1%) and housing insecurity (19.3% vs 10.9%) are higher too. 25.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Franklin adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.1%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
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 Franklin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Franklin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, #237 of 253 in Virginia. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 30% 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). Franklin’s median household income is $63,245; among the 9,614 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Franklin compares well: binge drinking, 10.6% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.3% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Franklin adults…
Franklin runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.7% of Franklin 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.
2.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Franklin
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Franklin, 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 Franklin; ≈ 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 Franklin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Franklin adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Franklin runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Franklin 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.
Franklin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Franklin adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Franklin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Franklin is better than Virginia on 3 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Franklin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Franklin | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.8%24.3–31.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15–19.5 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16–20.5 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.3%35.5–53.3 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.8%17.4–22.6 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.8%43.3–52.4 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.7%36–45.3 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.4%30.7–38.2 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.1–14.1 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.5–11.5 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.3%14.2–20.6 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.3%14.7–20.2 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.1%29–39.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.6%8.6–13 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.2%34.2–48.4 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%8.8–13.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.3%80.2–86.2 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.3%54.6–61.8 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%86.2–89.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.1%79.6–84.3 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.5%63.4–73.1 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%68.6–83 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.4–25.4 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.1%30.4–41.4 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.5%21.6–29.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.4%21.7–29.1 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.3%16.5–22.1 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.2%12.3–16.2 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%11.4–14.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.7%22–29.1 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.4%35.6–45.5 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.8%19.8–25.9 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.7%15.6–20.2 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.6%7.5–9.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.3%10.8–14 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%5.9–7.7 | 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 Franklin
Is Franklin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health, #237 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 Franklin?
CDC estimates 44.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 53.3%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Franklin?
Bon Secours Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Franklin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Franklin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–13.1%), 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 Franklin 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 Franklin.
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.