Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Tappahannock is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Tappahannock differs from Virginia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tappahannock. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tappahannock
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Tappahannock
1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.3% across Virginia. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. Diabetes is also above the state: 16.8%, vs 12.5% across Virginia. In all, Tappahannock runs above Virginia on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Tappahannock
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.4%), vs 13.1% across Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (11.3% vs 7.1%) and housing insecurity (16.3% vs 10.9%) are higher too. 19% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10.7% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Tappahannock
58.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Tappahannock’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Tappahannock is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Tappahannock is healthier than 16%. Against the 4,588 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 46%. 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 Tappahannock’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Tappahannock’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tappahannock is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 40% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Tappahannock’s median household income is $46,816; among the 4,588 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Where Tappahannock compares well: binge drinking, 11.5% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82.7% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Tappahannock adults…
Tappahannock runs above VA on 7 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.
19% of Tappahannock adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Keeping up with care
Share of Tappahannock adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Tappahannock
No hospital or community health center in Tappahannock 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 Tappahannock; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Tappahannock adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Tappahannock runs above Virginia.
4 in 10 Tappahannock 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.
Tappahannock and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tappahannock | C− | 42.6% | 16.8% | 15.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tappahannock adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tappahannock
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tappahannock is better than Virginia on 3 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Tappahannock’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tappahannock | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.5%21.3–28.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.1–18.3 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16–20.6 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%33.7–51.6 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.8%14.6–19.2 | 12.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.4%39.8–49 | 35.4% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%35.9–45.3 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.1%29.4–36.8 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 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 | 8%7.1–9.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.6–10.3 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.6–15.9 | 11.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8%13.2–18.6 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.5%25.6–36.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.5%9.2–14.2 | 14.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.8%33.7–48.2 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%7.9–12 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.7%79.4–85.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.2%54.3–62.1 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.1–89.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78–83.2 | 76.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%61.4–71.7 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.4–84.3 | 78.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.2–26.5 | 21.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%30.3–41.5 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21–28.9 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%16.8–23.9 | 13.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.3%13.5–18.9 | 10.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.3%9.6–13.1 | 7.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.2–12.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19%15.6–22.5 | 10.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%32.8–42.8 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20%17.3–22.9 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%14.7–19.2 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6–7.8 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.4–12.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.6–6 | 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 Tappahannock
Is Tappahannock a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tappahannock is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Tappahannock?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.7% and 51.6%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tappahannock?
VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital in Tappahannock, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Tappahannock’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tappahannock have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–12%), 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 Tappahannock 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 Tappahannock.
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.