Photo: DwayneP at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Radford is healthier than 82%
Radford differs from Virginia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Radford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Radford
Mental distress runs high in Radford
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.9%), vs 15.9% across Virginia. Depression is above the state too: 29.8%, vs 21.8% across Virginia. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Radford
1 in 8 adults lack reliable transportation (13.3%), vs 7.4% across Virginia. Food insecurity (20.4% vs 13.1%) and utility shut-off threats (10.3% vs 7.1%) are higher too. 18.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Radford
59.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 16.8% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Checkups ↓
Radford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Radford is healthier than 53%. Against the 8,131 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 82%. 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 Radford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Radford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Radford is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, #168 of 253 in Virginia. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 91% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Radford’s median household income is $57,348; among the 8,131 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 82%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Virginia towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Radford is healthier than 34% of graded towns, against 53% nationally.
How Radford adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Radford runs above Virginia.
2 in 5 Radford 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.
18.8% of Radford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Keeping up with care
Share of Radford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Out of every 100 Radford adults…
Radford runs below VA on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Radford residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Radford
No hospital or community health center in Radford 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 Radford; ≈ 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.
7.5 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Radford and the towns around it
Radford’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford | B− | 34.8% | 9% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Plum Creek | B | 30.8% | 11% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Fairlawn | A− | 32% | 12.1% | 11% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Radford adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Radford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Radford is better than Virginia on 7 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Radford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Radford | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.6%17.9–23.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%11.9–15.3 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.9%21.2–26.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%27–43.2 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9%7.8–10.3 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28%24.5–31.7 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.4%26.8–34.2 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.9%17.5–22.4 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 6.2% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–2.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.8%13.9–20.1 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.7–15.9 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.4%21.2–30.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.3–19.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%29.8–43.8 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.6%8–11.5 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.7%70.5–78.5 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.4%55.7–63.1 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.5%72.3–78.4 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.1%62.6–67.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.3%60.2–70.2 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.2–82.6 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.8%25.7–34.2 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.3%34.7–46.3 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.3–25.8 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%17.2–23.8 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%12.1–16.7 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.8–11.9 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.3%11.5–15.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.8%15.8–22.1 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.1%32.4–42 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.4%19.8–25.1 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.5–6.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12%10.5–13.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4 | 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 Radford
Is Radford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Radford is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #168 of 253 in Virginia. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Radford?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 27% and 43.2%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Radford?
Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Christiansburg, 3.6 miles in a straight line from Radford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Radford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–11.5%), 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 Radford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Radford.
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.