Photo: LR6 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Independence is healthier than 46%
Independence differs from Virginia on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Independence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Independence
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.4%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.3%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Stroke is also above the state: 5.4%, vs 3.3% across Virginia. In all, Independence runs above Virginia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Independence adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (35.1%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Independence
57.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 19.3% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Checkups ↓
Independence is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Independence is healthier than 9%. Against the 2,174 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$49K), it’s healthier than 46%. 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 Independence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Independence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 22% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Independence’s median household income is $39,286; among the 2,174 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$49K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Where Independence compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
Independence runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Independence is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Independence as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Independence
No hospital or community health center in Independence 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 Independence; ≈ 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 Independence adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Independence runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Independence 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.
18.3% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Independence and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | D | 39.8% | 17.9% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Independence adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Independence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.9%24.2–31.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.3–21 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.5–21.1 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%31.7–48.6 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.9%15.6–20.2 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.7%39.4–48.2 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.4%38.8–48.1 | 38% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.8%32.2–39.5 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.2–13 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%9–11 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.3%9.1–11.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.4%9.7–13 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.8–6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.3%16–23.2 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%15.2–21 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.1%29.9–40.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%9.7–14.7 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%31.1–44.6 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%9.1–13.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%77.2–83.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%53.5–60.9 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.4–87.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.4%78.9–83.7 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.5–71 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.7%63.4–79.4 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25%21.3–28.9 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%30.3–41.5 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%18.9–26.2 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.7%16.5–23.2 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.1–15.5 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%7.7–10.6 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%8.9–12 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.3%15.4–21.8 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43%38–48 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.8%19.8–25.8 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%16.8–21.7 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.6–12.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.5%10.9–14.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 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 Independence
Is Independence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D 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 Independence?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 48.6%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence?
Alleghany Memorial Hospital in Sparta, 8.4 miles in a straight line from Independence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Independence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–13.7%), 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 Independence 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 Independence.
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.