Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Lexington is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Lexington differs from Virginia on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lexington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lexington
Binge drinking is the habit Lexington doesn’t win on
18.4% of adults binge drink, vs 14.5% across Virginia, even though fewer of them smoke. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Lexington
Lexington runs below Virginia on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.6% vs 12.5%), stroke (2.3% vs 3.3%) and high blood pressure (25.8% vs 35.4%). Conditions ↓
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 Lexington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Lexington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lexington is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #98 of 253 in Virginia. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Lexington’s median household income is $84,517; among the 10,436 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$106K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Most Virginia towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Lexington is healthier than 62% of graded towns, against 84% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
3.3 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Lexington adults…
Lexington runs below VA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lexington
1 hospital in Lexington, 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 Lexington; ≈ 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 Lexington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Lexington adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lexington runs above Virginia.
2 in 5 Lexington 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.
7.6% of Lexington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Lexington and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | A− | 28.5% | 7.6% | 8.9% | CDC place |
| East Lexington | B | 33% | 11.3% | 13.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lexington adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lexington
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lexington is better than Virginia on 13 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Lexington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lexington | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.7%12.2–17.5 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9–12.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.3–21.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.5%21.1–36.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.6%6.3–8.8 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.8%22.4–29.3 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.7%27–34.6 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.1%16.7–21.5 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%3.9–5.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.6%3.8–5.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%1.9–2.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.7–15.7 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.9%6.9–11 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.4%15.4–23.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15–22.2 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%27.2–40.9 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6–10.1 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74%69.4–78.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68%64.4–71.3 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.1%73.4–80.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.1%66.9–71.2 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.1%66.3–75.6 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%73.1–85.8 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.1–29.1 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.6%31.7–43.3 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%17–24.5 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11%8.5–13.7 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8%6.5–9.7 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.2–6 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.6%5.9–9.6 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%25.4–35.3 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.2%7.6–11 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%13.9–19.8 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.3–4.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.9%6.6–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%1.9–2.7 | 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 Lexington
Is Lexington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lexington is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #98 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lexington?
CDC estimates 28.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.1% and 36.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lexington?
Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Lexington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lexington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–10.1%), 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 Lexington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lexington.
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.