Photo: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Narrows is healthier than 56%
Narrows trails Virginia on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Narrows. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Narrows
Dental care lags in Narrows
62% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 15.1% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Narrows’ county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
COPD, heart disease and depression run high in Narrows
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.4%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Depression is also above the state: 26%, vs 21.8% across Virginia. In all, Narrows runs above Virginia on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Narrows
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.2%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Narrows is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Narrows is healthier than 38%. Against the 9,552 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 56%. 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 Narrows’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Narrows’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Narrows is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 51% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Narrows’ median household income is $62,708; among the 9,552 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Narrows adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Out of every 100 Narrows adults…
Narrows runs above VA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
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.
Care in and near Narrows
No hospital or community health center in Narrows 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 Narrows; ≈ 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 Narrows adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Narrows runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Narrows 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.
10.9% of Narrows adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Narrows and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrows | C+ | 36.1% | 12.6% | 16.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Narrows adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Narrows
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Narrows is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Narrows’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Narrows | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.4–23.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.1–17 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.5–20.9 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%28.6–44.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.9–14.4 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%33.3–41.5 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%35.2–43.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%27–33.7 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.5 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–10.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.3–9.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.1%12.3–18.2 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%13.7–19.1 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.3%22–31.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%12.9–18.9 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.3%29.1–42.1 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%7.1–10.9 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.4%73.7–80.9 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.5–65.7 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.4–87.6 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.3%74.6–79.9 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.3–71.1 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%66.2–81 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.4–30.1 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%29.3–40 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21%17.7–24.5 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.5%10.2–15.2 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.9%8.2–11.8 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.5–7.7 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.2–8.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9%8.8–13.3 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.4–39.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%13.6–18.1 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.7–19.1 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 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 Narrows
Is Narrows a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Narrows is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ 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 Narrows?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 44.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Narrows?
Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Narrows’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Narrows have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–10.9%), 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 Narrows more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Narrows.
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.