Photo: Joe Ravi · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Roanoke is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns
Roanoke trails Virginia on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Roanoke. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Roanoke
Every town around Roanoke scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Roanoke’s C−, from Vinton (C+) to Cave Spring (A−). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Roanoke
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20%), vs 13.1% across Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (11% vs 7.1%) and no reliable transportation (10.8% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 19.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and obesity run high in Roanoke
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. Obesity is also above the state: 41.9%, vs 34.5% across Virginia. In all, Roanoke runs above Virginia on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Roanoke is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Roanoke is healthier than 19%. Against the 7,535 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 35%. 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 Roanoke’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Roanoke’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Roanoke is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns, #224 of 253 in Virginia. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 31% of U.S. towns); obesity 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). Roanoke’s median household income is $55,378; among the 7,535 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 35%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Roanoke and the towns around it
Roanoke’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | C− | 41.9% | 14.9% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Cave Spring | A− | 33.1% | 11.3% | 10.5% | CDC place |
| Salem | B | 35% | 12.3% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Vinton | C+ | 36.6% | 12.5% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Hollins | B− | 35.9% | 13.6% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.3% of Roanoke adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Out of every 100 Roanoke adults…
Roanoke runs above VA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Roanoke
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Roanoke, 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 Roanoke; ≈ 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.
53 miles of trails across 47 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Roanoke adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Roanoke adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Roanoke runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Roanoke 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Roanoke adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Roanoke
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Roanoke is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Roanoke’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Roanoke | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20.7–25.7 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.7–17.1 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.5–20.4 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.9%35.3–48.6 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.9%13.2–16.8 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%35.3–42.9 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%32.9–40.7 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%27.1–33.2 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.3–13 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.6–8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.5–9.2 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.6%12.9–18.4 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.6–18.9 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.8%25.8–33.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12.1–17.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.9%34.1–45.6 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%9.6–12.5 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.4–81.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.7–63.6 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%84–87.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.5–79.6 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.1%62.3–71.4 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.8–81.8 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.6–27.3 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%31.3–41.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.5–27.2 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20%17.8–22.6 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13.7–17.6 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11%9.7–12.6 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.6–12.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.3%17.2–21.5 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%31.1–39 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.4%15.6–19.3 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%15.8–19.4 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.2–7.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.5–11.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.7–5.5 | 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 Roanoke
Is Roanoke a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Roanoke is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #224 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 35%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Roanoke?
CDC estimates 41.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 48.6%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Roanoke?
Carilion Medical Center in Roanoke, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Roanoke’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Roanoke have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–12.5%), 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 Roanoke more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Roanoke.
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.