Photo: DwayneP · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Pulaski is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Pulaski trails Virginia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pulaski. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pulaski
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Pulaski
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.5%, vs 6.1% across Virginia. In all, Pulaski runs above Virginia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Pulaski is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pulaski is healthier than 12%. Against the 5,602 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 33%. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in Pulaski
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.8%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
More Pulaski adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.6%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Pulaski has a top-rated hospital
Lewisgale Hospital Pulaski is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Pulaski’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Pulaski’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pulaski is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #233 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 32% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Pulaski’s median household income is $49,491; among the 5,602 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Pulaski adults…
Pulaski runs above VA on 9 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Care in and near Pulaski
1 hospital in Pulaski, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Pulaski; ≈ 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 Pulaski adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Pulaski adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Pulaski runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Pulaski 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.
17.3% of Pulaski adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Pulaski and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski | D | 38.4% | 15.1% | 18.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pulaski adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pulaski
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pulaski is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Pulaski’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pulaski | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%20.9–27.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.1–19.4 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.5–22.2 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.4%30.9–46.3 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.1–17.2 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40%35.7–44.3 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.7%37.3–46.3 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.2%29.8–36.9 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.9%14.7–21.4 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%16–21.7 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.6%26.6–36.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.1–16.4 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%32–44.8 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%8.4–11.9 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.7–82.6 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%57–64.4 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.2–87.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.1–81.5 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59.1–68.8 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%65–79.8 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.3–29.9 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%29.2–39.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.4–25.3 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.8%15.1–20.9 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.1–15.2 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8–10.7 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.4–11 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.3%14.7–20.4 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.1%34.4–44 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%16.9–22 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.7%16.4–21 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 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 Pulaski
Is Pulaski a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pulaski is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #233 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pulaski?
CDC estimates 38.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 46.3%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pulaski?
Lewisgale Hospital Pulaski in Pulaski, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Pulaski’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pulaski have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–11.9%), 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 Pulaski more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pulaski.
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.