Photo: MarmadukePercy · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Rocky Mount is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns
Rocky Mount differs from Virginia on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rocky Mount. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rocky Mount
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Rocky Mount
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6.1% across Virginia. In all, Rocky Mount runs above Virginia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Rocky Mount
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17%), vs 13.1% across Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (9.1% vs 7.1%) and no reliable transportation (9.4% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 16.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Rocky Mount adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.4%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Rocky Mount has a top-rated hospital
Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital 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 Rocky Mount’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Rocky Mount’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rocky Mount is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #218 of 253 in Virginia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 47% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Rocky Mount’s median household income is $63,280; among the 9,621 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Rocky Mount compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Rocky Mount adults…
Rocky Mount runs above VA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.1% of Rocky Mount adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
2 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Rocky Mount
1 hospital in Rocky Mount, 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 Rocky Mount; ≈ 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 Rocky Mount adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Rocky Mount adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Rocky Mount 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.
Rocky Mount and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount | C− | 36.6% | 16.1% | 15.8% | CDC place |
| Henry Fork | — | — | — | — |
Henry Fork: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rocky Mount adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rocky Mount
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rocky Mount is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Rocky Mount’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rocky Mount | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.5–26.9 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.7–19.8 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.6%29.4–43.8 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.1–18.1 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.3%38.1–46.4 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%37.9–46.6 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.6%30.1–37 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%11.1–16.3 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8%13.3–18.4 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.4%25.8–35.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.5–15.6 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%31.3–43.5 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.9%8.1–11.9 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%77.7–84 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.2%61.8–68.6 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.3–88.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.2%78.6–83.5 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%64.3–73.3 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%66.8–80.7 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.7–27.8 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28.3–38.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18.3–25.4 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17%14.4–20.2 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.2–15.4 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.9–10.6 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.2–10.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.1%13.6–19 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33.4–42.3 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%17.1–22.3 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%14.8–18.9 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8–10.2 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.4–12.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 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 Rocky Mount
Is Rocky Mount a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rocky Mount is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #218 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rocky Mount?
CDC estimates 36.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.4% and 43.8%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rocky Mount?
Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital in Rocky Mount, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Rocky Mount’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rocky Mount have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–11.9%), 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 Rocky Mount 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 Rocky Mount.
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.