Shack Mountain · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Rio is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Rio differs from Virginia on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rio. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rio
COPD and heart disease are less common in Rio
Rio runs below Virginia on eight chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.7% vs 6.2%), heart disease (3.8% vs 6.1%) and stroke (2.2% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%). Conditions ↓
Few Rio adults smoke
8.2% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Rio is an active town
Only 19% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
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 Rio’s likely range.
What’s behind Rio’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rio is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 96% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 75%.
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). Rio’s median household income is $56,250; among the 7,801 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Rio adults…
Rio runs below VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Rio residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
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 Rio
No hospital or community health center in Rio 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 Rio; ≈ 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 Rio adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Rio adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Rio 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.
7.8% of Rio adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Rio and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio | A | 29.3% | 8.7% | 8.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rio adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rio
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rio is better than Virginia on 14 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Rio’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rio | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%11.4–15.4 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.4–11 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.5–17.4 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.3%23.2–35.2 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.7%7.4–9.9 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.3%23.9–30.4 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.2%27.5–34.8 | 38% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.1%16.7–21.4 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%7–10.5 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.2%6.7–9.8 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19%15.6–22.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13–18.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.3%29.7–41.1 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.5–9.7 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%73.4–80.5 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.6%67.3–73.7 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.2–88.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.2%69.1–74.7 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.8%68.6–76.8 | 67.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.4%75.2–86.5 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.3–23.6 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30.4–40.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21%17.8–24.5 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.8%8.9–13.1 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.5–12.2 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.2–7.3 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.8%6.2–9.6 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25%21.3–28.6 | 30% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9%7.7–10.4 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.5%10.7–14.2 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.4%3.8–4.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5.2–6.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2–2.6 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Rio
Is Rio a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rio is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rio?
CDC estimates 29.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.2% and 35.2%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rio?
University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Rio’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rio have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–9.7%), 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 Rio more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rio.
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.