Photo: Jjmusgrove · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Virginia, Laurel is healthier than 39% of graded towns
Laurel differs from Virginia on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Laurel. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Laurel
What’s behind Laurel’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Laurel is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #154 of 253 in Virginia. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 67% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Laurel’s median household income is $73,609; among the 10,798 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.9% of Laurel adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Out of every 100 Laurel adults…
Laurel runs below VA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Laurel residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Laurel
No hospital or community health center in Laurel 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 Laurel; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Laurel adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Laurel adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
4 in 10 Laurel 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.
Laurel and the towns around it
Laurel’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel | B | 34.4% | 12% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Lakeside | B | 34.7% | 12% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Glen Allen | A− | 32.2% | 11.4% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Dumbarton | C+ | 35.6% | 13.3% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Laurel adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Laurel
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Laurel is better than Virginia on 2 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Laurel’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Laurel | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.8%17.7–22.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.7–14.7 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.7–19.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%29–40.1 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.6–13.6 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.9%31.5–38.5 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.6%30.1–37.1 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.7–26.9 | 26.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.5–6.9 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.5%9.5–13.9 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%12.2–16 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24%20.7–27.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.8–17 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38%33.3–42.8 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.2–12.4 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74.4–81 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.5%62.4–68.6 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.6–87.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.6–77.3 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%63–71.4 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%72.3–83.6 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.1%19.1–25.3 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.2%31.5–41 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%20.9–27.9 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.7%14.4–19 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.5–16.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%7.8–10.4 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.1–10.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.9%11.8–15.8 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.4%28.9–36.2 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%12.1–15.3 | 13.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%14.2–17.7 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.4–4 | 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 Laurel
Is Laurel a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Laurel is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #154 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Laurel?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29% and 40.1%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Laurel?
Henrico Doctors' Hospital in Richmond, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Laurel’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Laurel have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.2–12.4%), 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 Laurel 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 Laurel.
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.