Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Pembroke is healthier than 58%
Pembroke differs from Virginia on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pembroke. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pembroke
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Pembroke
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.6%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Cancer is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 7.7% across Virginia. In all, Pembroke runs above Virginia on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Pembroke
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.1%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Pembroke is short on primary care and dental care
Pembroke’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and dental care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Pembroke is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pembroke is healthier than 34%. Against the 8,174 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 58%. 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 Pembroke’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Pembroke’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pembroke is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 48% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Pembroke’s median household income is $57,500; among the 8,174 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Pembroke compares well: lost all teeth (ages 65+), 7% (U.S. 12.3%).
Out of every 100 Pembroke adults…
Pembroke runs below VA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. 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 Pembroke
No hospital or community health center in Pembroke 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 Pembroke; ≈ 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 Pembroke adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Pembroke adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Pembroke 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.
11.1% of Pembroke adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Pembroke and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke | C | 36.4% | 13.4% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pembroke adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pembroke
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pembroke is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Pembroke’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pembroke | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.8%17.3–24.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13–17.4 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%15.8–20.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.4%28.6–44.6 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.5–15.4 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%34.9–43.4 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%35.9–44.8 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.5%28.1–35.1 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.7–8.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.1–10.2 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7%5.7–8.6 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%12.8–19.2 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.1%22.1–32.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%12.1–17.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1%27.9–40.9 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.8%6.8–11.4 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75–82 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.8%64.5–71.2 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%84.4–88.6 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%75.8–81.3 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.2–71 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67.3–81.6 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%21.6–29.1 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%29.2–40.4 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%17.9–25.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%10.2–16 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.2–12.2 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.6–8 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.4%6.1–8.7 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.1%8.8–13.9 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%30.6–40.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14–19.5 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14–19 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.2–9.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8–10.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.4–4.6 | 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 Pembroke
Is Pembroke a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pembroke is healthier than 34% 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 Pembroke?
CDC estimates 36.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 44.6%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pembroke?
Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Pembroke’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pembroke have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–11.4%), 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 Pembroke 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 Pembroke.
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.