Photo: Cyoung9 · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Galax is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Galax differs from Virginia on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Galax. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Galax
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Galax
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), about twice the Virginia rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Stroke is also above the state: 5.3%, vs 3.3% across Virginia. In all, Galax runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Galax adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.2%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Galax
55.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 18.8% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Checkups ↓
Galax is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Galax is healthier than 8%. Against the 2,027 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 44%. 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 Galax’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Galax’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Galax is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #241 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 28% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Galax’s median household income is $38,675; among the 2,027 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 44%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Galax compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Galax adults…
Galax 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.
2.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Galax adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Galax
1 hospital in Galax, 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 Galax; ≈ 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 Galax adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Galax runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Galax 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.
20% of Galax adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Galax and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galax | D | 39% | 17.6% | 19.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Galax adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Galax
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Galax is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Galax’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Galax | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.9%24.1–32 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.5–21.6 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%16.9–21.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39%30.7–47.8 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.3–20.2 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.6%39.1–48.2 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.9%37.4–46.5 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35%31.3–38.8 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–10.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10%8.8–11.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.2–13.7 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.7–6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.8%15.4–22.4 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%16.2–22.5 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.2%28.8–40.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.4–15.5 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%30.3–44.8 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.2%11–15.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.4–83 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.1%51.1–58.7 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%83.2–87.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.1–82.2 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%57.9–67.9 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.9%63–79.2 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.2–30.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.2%28.8–40.2 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18–25.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.6%17.4–24.3 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.3–17.1 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.9–12 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.5–12.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20%16.9–23.4 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.6%37.4–48.1 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.6%19.5–25.9 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%16.9–22 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.2–11.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11–14.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 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 Galax
Is Galax a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Galax is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #241 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 44%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Galax?
CDC estimates 39% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 47.8%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Galax?
Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Galax’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Galax have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–15.6%), 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 Galax 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 Galax.
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.