Photo: Eduardo Montes-Bradley · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, South Boston is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
South Boston differs from Virginia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Boston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Boston
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in South Boston
1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), about twice the Virginia rate. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.2%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.4%, vs 12.5% across Virginia. In all, South Boston runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and stroke, COPD and diabetes are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More South Boston adults get no exercise
36% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across Virginia. There are 15 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South Boston
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.3%), about twice the Virginia rate. Utility shut-off threats (14.5% vs 7.1%) and no reliable transportation (13.6% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 27.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
South Boston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, South Boston is healthier than 6%. Against the 3,688 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 24%. 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 South Boston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind South Boston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Boston is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #246 of 253 in Virginia. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 25% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). South Boston’s median household income is $44,052; among the 3,688 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 24%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where South Boston compares well: binge drinking, 10.3% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.7% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 South Boston adults…
South Boston runs above VA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
South Boston is an older town: 25% 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 South Boston as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
15 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.3% of South Boston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Care in and near South Boston
1 hospital and 1 community health center in South Boston, 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 South Boston; ≈ 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 South Boston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How South Boston adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, South Boston runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 South Boston 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.
South Boston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Boston | D | 42.8% | 20.4% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Riverdale | C− | 37.8% | 16.6% | 16.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Boston adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Boston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Boston is better than Virginia on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside South Boston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Boston | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.3%26–32.8 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.1–20.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.5–20.7 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%35.4–50.3 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.4%18–22.8 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.1%44.8–53.1 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.2%37.9–46.5 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35%31.6–38.3 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.7 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.8–10.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.8%17.4–24.7 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.4–21.6 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36%31.1–41 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.3%8.4–12.5 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.2%33.3–45.8 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.9%10–14 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.9–84.8 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.6%55.1–62.2 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85.1–88.4 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.4–83.8 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%62.6–72 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%71.8–84.5 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.4–24.9 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%31.3–41.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%21.7–28.9 | 21.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.3%23.1–30.1 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.1%16.6–21.8 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.5%12.6–16.4 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.6%11.9–15.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%24–30.9 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.9%37.4–46.6 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.3%21.7–27 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16.4–20.8 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.9–9.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 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 South Boston
Is South Boston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Boston is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #246 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Boston?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 50.3%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Boston?
Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston, 0.1 miles in a straight line from South Boston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Boston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10–14%), 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 South Boston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Boston.
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.