Thomas James Store, Old · Photo: Jennifer Glass · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Mathews residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Mathews, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mathews. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mathews
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Mathews
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.3%), vs 7.7% across Virginia. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Stroke is also above the state: 5%, vs 3.3% across Virginia. In all, Mathews runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and cancer, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Mathews is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Mathews’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Mathews, and more people treating it
45.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Virginia 35.4%), but 85.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Mathews keeps up with checkups
It beats Virginia on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (85% vs 79.2%) and cholesterol checks (92% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
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 Mathews’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Mathews adults…
Mathews runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Mathews is an older town: 27% 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 Mathews as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Mathews
No hospital or community health center in Mathews 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 Mathews; ≈ 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 Mathews adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Mathews adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Mathews 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.
8.6% of Mathews adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Mathews and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mathews adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Mathews
Why doesn’t Mathews have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Mathews.
What hospital is closest to Mathews?
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, 11.9 miles in a straight line from Mathews’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mathews.
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. 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.