Brooks-Brown House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Penhook is healthier than 23%
Penhook differs from Virginia on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Penhook. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Penhook
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Penhook
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14.1%), vs 7.7% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.4%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. COPD is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 6.2% across Virginia. In all, Penhook runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Penhook’s lead shrinks
Penhook is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, but 23% of the 7,331 towns with similar household incomes ($82K–$136K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Penhook, and more people treating it
47.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Virginia 35.4%), but 86.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Penhook keeps up with checkups
It beats Virginia on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (85.3% vs 79.2%) and dentist visits (72.7% vs 67.9%). 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 Penhook’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Penhook’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Penhook is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 92% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Penhook’s median household income is $108,750; among the 7,331 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($82K–$136K), it’s healthier than 23%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Penhook adults…
Penhook runs below VA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Penhook adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Penhook
No hospital or community health center in Penhook 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 Penhook; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
15 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Penhook adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Penhook does better than Virginia.
3 in 10 Penhook 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 Penhook adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Penhook and the towns around it
Penhook’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penhook | B− | 33.3% | 17.2% | 12% | CDC place |
| Union Hall | B | 32.5% | 16.2% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| North Shore | B+ | 31.3% | 15.8% | 10.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Penhook adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Penhook
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Penhook is better than Virginia on 15 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Penhook’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Penhook | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20%16.7–24.1 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.1–18 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.8–15.5 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.3%26.4–40.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.2%14.8–20.1 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.3%42.7–52 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 49.2%44.5–53.9 | 38% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 40%35.7–44.3 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14.1%12.6–15.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.4%8.9–12 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%7.7–11.8 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.3–5.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.3–10.8 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12%9.5–15.2 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.1%21.3–31.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 10.7%8.7–13 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1%27.6–39 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.3–8.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.3%82.5–87.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.7%69.7–75.7 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.6%91.2–93.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 86.3%83.8–88.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 78.5%74.6–82.2 | 67.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%71.5–83.8 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.7%18.4–25.4 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.9%23.6–33.3 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.3%14.4–20.9 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.8%7.6–12.3 | 13.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6–9 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%4.1–6 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.7–6.7 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%6.6–11.1 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1%30.1–40.7 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.9%15.9–22.7 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.3%10.5–14.5 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9.1–12.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–6.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7–9.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.5–5 | 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 Penhook
Is Penhook a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Penhook is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− 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 Penhook?
CDC estimates 33.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.4% and 40.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Penhook?
Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount, 14.0 miles in a straight line from Penhook’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Penhook have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–8.6%), 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 Penhook more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Penhook.
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.