Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Salem is healthier than 79%
Salem differs from Virginia on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
Cancer and COPD run high in Salem
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 7.7% across Virginia. 1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.3%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. Conditions ↓
Salem is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Salem is healthier than 59%. Against the 10,163 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 79%. 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 Salem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns, #148 of 253 in Virginia. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 68% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Salem’s median household income is $66,725; among the 10,163 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Virginia towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Salem is healthier than 42% of graded towns, against 59% nationally.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs above VA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Salem
2 hospitals in Salem, 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 Salem; ≈ 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.
4.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Salem adults are doing
About the same as Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Salem 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.
9.5% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Salem and the towns around it
Salem’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | B | 35% | 12.3% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Roanoke | C− | 41.9% | 14.9% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Glenvar | — | — | — | — | |
| Cave Spring | A− | 33.1% | 11.3% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Glenvar: 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 Salem adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than Virginia on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%15.9–20.6 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.3–15.6 | 12.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.2–19.1 | 15.9% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35%28.2–42.5 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.8–14 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.1%32.4–40 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%35.3–43.3 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30%27–33.1 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.6–10.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.9%11.3–16.8 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11.2–15 | 12.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.1%20.5–28.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.5–17.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.4%29.9–43.3 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%6.4–9 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%76–82.3 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.7%65.4–72 | 67.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.1–88.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%76–80.9 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%65–74.3 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%69.3–83.4 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.4–28.4 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%28.5–39 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%16.5–23 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%9.6–13.5 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.2%7.8–10.8 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.3–7.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6–7.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8–11.2 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%28.7–36.8 | 30% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%13.1–16.8 | 13.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.3–16.8 | 14% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.5–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 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 Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 59% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #148 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 Salem?
CDC estimates 35% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.2% and 42.5%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Lewisgale Medical Center in Salem, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9%), 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 Salem more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salem.
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.