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Giles courthouse, PearisburgPhoto: Taber Andrew Bain · CC BY 2.0
≈ CHealth Grade
Health in Pearisburg · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Pearisburg is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns

Pearisburg trails Virginia on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pearisburg. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Pearisburg

COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Pearisburg

1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.5%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Cancer is also above the state: 9.4%, vs 7.7% across Virginia. In all, Pearisburg runs above Virginia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Depression is more common in Pearisburg

1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.7%), vs 21.8% across Virginia. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.3%, vs 15.9% across Virginia. Mind & connection ↓

Smoking is more common in Pearisburg

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.2%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓

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 Pearisburg’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Pearisburg’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearisburg is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #200 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 49% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).

C+Self-rated health20.8% · VA 18.1% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.3% · VA 12.8% · U.S. 13%
CMental distress18.3% · VA 15.9% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.3% · VA 34.5% · U.S. 32.9%
CDiabetes13.2% · VA 12.5% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking16.2% smoke · VA 12.2% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise27% · VA 23.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 34%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (253)Healthier than 21%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $57K–$94K (10,836)Healthier than 31%

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). Pearisburg’s median household income is $75,532; among the 10,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Pearisburg could be anywhere from D to B+. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Pearisburg adults…

Pearisburg runs above VA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Pearisburg adults have COPD
Virginia: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.5–9.9%
Better than VAWorseAbout the sameVirginia
Mind & connection

How Pearisburg adults are doing

On 2 of 4 measures, Pearisburg runs above Virginia.

1 in 3Pearisburg adults feel lonely
34.5% · VA 33.8% · About the same as VA
1 in 5Pearisburg adults lack social or emotional support
21.2% · VA 21.6% · About the same as VA
1 in 4Pearisburg adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.7% · VA 21.8% · Worse than VA
1 in 5Pearisburg adults are in frequent mental distress
18.3% · VA 15.9% · Worse than VA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Pearisburg adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia

Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.

Get no exercise 27%VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.8%VA 36%
Binge drink 15.1%VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettes 16.2%VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Pearisburg, betterPearisburg, worseAbout the sameVirginia
Where Pearisburg gets moving

2.7 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Pearisburg

1 community health center in Pearisburg, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERCarilion Giles Community HospitalPearisburg · 6.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCarilion Giles Community Hospital★★★★★ · 6.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careFree Clinic of New River ValleyPearisburg · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.5 mi
Free Clinic of New River Valley
2 sites · nearest in Pearisburg
Sliding-scale feesIn Pearisburg
Directions to nearest
5.7 mi
Monroe County Health Department
3 sites · nearest in Peterstown
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
6.2 mi
Carilion Giles Community Hospital
Pearisburg · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
18 mi
Lewisgale Hospital Pulaski
Pulaski · ★★★★★
ER
20.1 mi
Lewisgale Hospital Montgomery
Blacksburg · ★★★★★
ER
20.5 mi
Carilion New River Valley Medical Center
Christiansburg · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Pearisburg itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Pearisburg itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Pearisburg itself

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 Pearisburg; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Pearisburg adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.

78%Yearly checkupVA 79%
64%Dentist visitVA 68%
86%Cholesterol checkVA 88%
66%Colon screeningVA 67%
73%MammogramVA 79%
78%Taking BP medsVA 77%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Pearisburg 8.8% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Pearisburg adults worry about having enough food
12.8% · VA 13.1%
About the same as VA
1 in 10
Pearisburg adults worry about keeping their housing
10% · VA 10.9%
About the same as VA
1 in 15
Pearisburg adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.6% · VA 7.1%
About the same as VA
1 in 14
Pearisburg adults lack reliable transportation
7.4% · VA 7.4%
About the same as VA

11.1% of Pearisburg adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.

Around town

Pearisburg and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
PearisburgC36.3%13.2%16.2%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

35.5%

of Pearisburg adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.6%
Thinking or memory16.6%
Hearing8.2%
Errands alone9.4%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing4%
Virginia

Every CDC estimate for Pearisburg

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pearisburg is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Pearisburg’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…PearisburgVAU.S.vs VA
Overall health
Fair or poor health20.8%17.9–23.918.1%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.3%13.4–17.412.8%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.3%16.1–20.615.9%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity36.3%28.5–44.634.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes13.2%11.4–15.112.5%12%About the same
High blood pressure38.5%34.2–42.835.4%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)40.4%35.9–44.838%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.4%28–34.926.2%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.2%9.9–12.610.4%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.4%8.4–10.47.7%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.5%6.6–8.36.1%6.4%Worse
COPD8.7%7.5–9.96.2%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.9%3.5–4.33.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)14.8%12.1–17.911.1%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.2%13.6–1912.2%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work27%22.5–32.123.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking15.1%12.3–18.114.5%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35.8%29.4–42.736%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.8%7.2–10.88.7%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year78.1%74.5–81.579.2%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year63.7%60.1–67.367.9%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.3%84.3–88.187.5%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.3%75.4–80.976.8%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)65.9%61.2–70.667.4%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)73.4%65.5–80.478.6%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.7%22.1–29.721.8%20.6%Worse
Feel lonely34.5%29.4–39.933.8%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.2%17.8–24.821.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.8%10.5–15.413.1%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10%8.3–11.810.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.6%5.6–7.87.1%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.4%6.3–8.57.4%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)11.1%9–13.310.7%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability35.5%30.9–40.330%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16.6%14.3–19.113.5%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering16.6%14.5–18.914%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty8.2%7.2–9.26.4%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5.1%4.6–5.84.7%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone9.4%8.2–10.67.7%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.5–4.53.5%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 Pearisburg

Is Pearisburg a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pearisburg is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #200 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Pearisburg?

CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 44.6%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Pearisburg?

Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg, 6.2 miles in a straight line from Pearisburg’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Pearisburg have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10.8%), 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 Pearisburg 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 Pearisburg.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.