Photo: Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, George Mason is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
George Mason differs from Virginia on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for George Mason. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in George Mason
COPD and heart disease are less common in George Mason
George Mason runs below Virginia on nine chronic conditions, most of all COPD (2.7% vs 6.2%), heart disease (2.7% vs 6.1%) and stroke (1.5% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 6% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit George Mason doesn’t win on
17.4% of adults binge drink, vs 14.5% across Virginia, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, George Mason’s lead shrinks
George Mason is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, but 70% of the 2,716 towns with similar household incomes ($113K–$188K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
George Mason is an active town
Only 17.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, 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 George Mason’s likely range.
What’s behind George Mason’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, George Mason is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #70 of 253 in Virginia. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). George Mason’s median household income is $150,341; among the 2,716 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($113K–$188K), it’s healthier than 70%, about where its income would put it.
Most Virginia towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state George Mason is healthier than 72% of graded towns, against 94% nationally.
Out of every 100 George Mason adults…
George Mason runs below VA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of George Mason residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
6.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near George Mason
No hospital or community health center in George Mason 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 George Mason; ≈ 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 George Mason adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How George Mason adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, George Mason runs above Virginia.
2 in 5 George Mason 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.
7.1% of George Mason adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
George Mason and the towns around it
George Mason’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason | A | 23.6% | 6.1% | 7.5% | CDC place |
| Fairfax | A | 31.2% | 11% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Braddock | A+ | 21.3% | 10.4% | 6.3% | CDC place |
| Kings Park West | A+ | 23.5% | 10.4% | 8% | CDC place |
| Long Branch | A+ | 21% | 11% | 6.7% | CDC place |
| Fair Oaks | A+ | 22.4% | 8.1% | 7.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of George Mason adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for George Mason
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, George Mason is better than Virginia on 14 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside George Mason’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | George Mason | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.1%10.6–13.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.3–19.4 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.6%19.9–27.7 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.1%5.3–7 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 20%17.7–22.5 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.3%24.7–30.1 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.6 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.7%2.5–3.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.7%2.4–3.1 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.5%1.3–1.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6%4.8–7.4 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.5%6.4–8.8 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.3%14.8–20.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%14.8–20.2 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.5%34.7–42.2 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7.2–9.8 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.5%69–75.8 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.8%64.9–70.6 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.6–84.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 60.9%58–63.9 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%62–69.2 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.1%76.1–85.4 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%19.5–25.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%35.6–44.4 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21.6–28.3 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%10–13.8 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.4–12.7 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.3–7.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7–9.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%5.9–8.4 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23%20.2–26.2 | 30% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%13–16.6 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.4%3–3.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.9–3.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.7%1.5–1.9 | 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 George Mason
Is George Mason a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, George Mason is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #70 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 70%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in George Mason?
CDC estimates 23.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.9% and 27.7%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to George Mason?
Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, 6.1 miles in a straight line from George Mason’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in George Mason have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–9.8%), 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 George Mason more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in George Mason.
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.