Photo: Nyttend · Public domainPennington Gap’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Pennington Gap differs from Virginia on 28 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 26 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pennington Gap. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pennington Gap
More Pennington Gap adults get no exercise
44.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Virginia (about twice the Virginia rate). Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Pennington Gap
42.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 34.8% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Pennington Gap’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Pennington Gap
3 in 10 adults smoke cigarettes (29%), more than twice the Virginia rate. Habits ↓
Pennington Gap is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pennington Gap is healthier than 0%. Against the 107 towns with similar household incomes ($16K–$27K), it’s healthier than 15%. 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 Pennington Gap’s likely range.
What’s behind Pennington Gap’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pennington Gap is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Pennington Gap’s estimates fall in the lowest 3% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 25.4% of adults, against 12.8% across Virginia and 13% nationally.
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). Pennington Gap’s median household income is $21,633; among the 107 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($16K–$27K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pennington Gap compares well: binge drinking, 11.2% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.6% (U.S. 76.5%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
2.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Pennington Gap adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Out of every 100 Pennington Gap adults…
Pennington Gap runs above VA on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pennington Gap
No hospital or community health center in Pennington Gap 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 Pennington Gap; ≈ 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 Pennington Gap adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Pennington Gap runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Pennington Gap 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.
36.9% of Pennington Gap adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Pennington Gap and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennington Gap | D− | 46.3% | 22.9% | 29% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pennington Gap adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pennington Gap
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pennington Gap is better than Virginia on 2 and worse on 26; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Pennington Gap’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pennington Gap | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 39.4%34.6–43.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 25.4%22.3–28.5 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.8%20.2–25.4 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.3%38–55.1 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.9%20–25.8 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 50.4%45.9–54.8 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.7%41.1–50.6 | 38% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 41.6%37.8–45.5 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.1%11.5–14.7 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.3–11.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 14.2%12.5–15.9 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 20%17.4–22.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.9%7–8.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 34.8%29.7–40.1 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 29%25–32.9 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 44.9%39–51 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.2%9.1–13.7 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%32.7–46.9 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.6%12.4–19.1 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%76–83 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 42.2%38.4–46 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.4%78.8–84.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%79.2–84 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55%49.4–60.3 | 67.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 63.6%53.6–72 | 78.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.9%24.9–33.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%29.8–40.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%18.9–26.8 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.5%26.4–37 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.9%15.9–22.2 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.4%13.1–17.9 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.9%13.6–18.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.9%31.4–42.5 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 53.7%48.3–58.9 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 33%29.2–36.7 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 26%22.7–29.3 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 14.5%12.8–16.2 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 13.2%11.5–15 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 20%17.4–22.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 10.5%9.1–12 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Pennington Gap
Is Pennington Gap a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pennington Gap is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pennington Gap?
CDC estimates 46.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 38% and 55.1%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pennington Gap?
Lee County Community Hospital in Pennington Gap, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Pennington Gap’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Pennington Gap have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–19.1%), 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 Pennington Gap more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pennington Gap.
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.