Where Ripplemead residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ripplemead, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ripplemead. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ripplemead
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Ripplemead
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.3%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Cancer is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 7.7% across Virginia. In all, Ripplemead runs above Virginia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 43% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Ripplemead
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.6%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Ripplemead, and more people treating it
41.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Virginia 35.4%), but 80.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Ripplemead is short on primary care and dental care
Ripplemead’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and dental care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. 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 Ripplemead’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Ripplemead adults…
Ripplemead runs above VA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Ripplemead is an older town: 43% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Ripplemead as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ripplemead adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Ripplemead
No hospital or community health center in Ripplemead 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 Ripplemead; ≈ 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 Ripplemead adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Ripplemead 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.
10.1% of Ripplemead adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Ripplemead and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ripplemead adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ripplemead
Why doesn’t Ripplemead have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ripplemead.
What hospital is closest to Ripplemead?
Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg, 7.9 miles in a straight line from Ripplemead’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Ripplemead?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Giles Clinic in Pearisburg, 2.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ripplemead.
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. 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.