Photo: User:Corvokarasu · Public domainOn CDC estimates, South Hill is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
South Hill differs from Virginia on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Hill. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Hill
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in South Hill
1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. Diabetes is also above the state: 18.2%, vs 12.5% across Virginia. In all, South Hill runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and stroke, COPD and diabetes are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in South Hill
58.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 20.8% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). South Hill’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South Hill
22.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 13.1% across Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (12.4% vs 7.1%) and no reliable transportation (11.9% vs 7.4%) are higher too. 22.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Hill’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind South Hill’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Hill is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #235 of 253 in Virginia. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 32% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 4%).
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 Hill’s median household income is $66,023; among the 10,095 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 9%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where South Hill compares well: binge drinking, 11.1% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82.2% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 South Hill adults…
South Hill runs above VA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
South Hill is an older town: 26% 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 Hill as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Hill adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.3% of South Hill adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Care in and near South Hill
No hospital or community health center in South Hill 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 South Hill; ≈ 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.
5.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How South Hill adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, South Hill runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 South Hill 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 Hill and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Hill | D | 42.6% | 18.2% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| La Crosse | — | — | — | — |
La Crosse: 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 South Hill adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Hill
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Hill is better than Virginia on 3 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside South Hill’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Hill | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.2%23–29.8 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15–19.1 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16–20.5 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%35.8–49.9 | 34.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.2%16.1–20.7 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.5%41.4–49.8 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%36.6–44.9 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.1%30.7–37.7 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.4–11.2 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.8%17.3–24.6 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.4–19.5 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.9%28.1–38.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.1%9.1–13.4 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.6%35.3–48.1 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%9–12.8 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.3–85.1 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.7%55–62.4 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.4–88.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.4–83.1 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.4%60.6–70.1 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%67.5–81.6 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.8–26.8 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%31–41.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.4–28.7 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.3%19.1–25.6 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.3%14.9–19.8 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%10.7–14.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.4–13.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.3%19–25.4 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%34.4–43.6 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.4%18.7–24.2 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.6%15.6–19.9 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.4–13.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.4–6.7 | 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 Hill
Is South Hill a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Hill is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #235 of 253 in Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Hill?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.8% and 49.9%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Hill?
Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, 3.8 miles in a straight line from South Hill’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Hill have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–12.8%), 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 Hill 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 Hill.
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.