Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Athens is healthier than 74%
Athens differs from West Virginia on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Athens. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Athens
Athens is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Athens is healthier than 45%. Against the 7,915 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 74%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Athens doesn’t win on
17.3% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across West Virginia, even though fewer of them smoke. Habits ↓
Diabetes and cancer are less common in Athens
Athens runs below West Virginia on nine chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (10.4% vs 15.9%), cancer (6.5% vs 9.6%) and heart disease (5.9% vs 8.7%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%). Conditions ↓
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 West Virginia figure falls outside Athens’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Athens’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 75% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). Athens’ median household income is $56,667; among the 7,915 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Athens compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%); stroke, 2.9% (U.S. 3.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Athens adults…
Athens runs below WV on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Athens residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Athens
No hospital or community health center in Athens 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 Athens; ≈ 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 Athens adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Athens adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Athens runs above West Virginia.
2 in 5 Athens 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.
14.7% of Athens adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Athens and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | C+ | 33.9% | 10.4% | 15.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Athens adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Athens
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Athens is better than West Virginia on 11 and worse on 5; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Athens’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Athens | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.3%17.6–25.9 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%11.7–16 | 17.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.5%18.9–25.9 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%28.1–40 | 40.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.4%9–12 | 15.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29–35.9 | 44% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%31.7–39 | 42.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.9–30 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.1–13.1 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.5%6.2–8.9 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.7%16.4–23.6 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.1–18.5 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 27.4%22.4–32.8 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.4–20.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.7%36.3–47.6 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%5.7–12.7 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%73.1–80.7 | 81% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.1%51.5–59 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.7%73.7–83.3 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71%68.6–73.5 | 79.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%63.2–72.3 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.8–82 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30%25.9–34.2 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.8%34–46.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%20.2–30.1 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%11.1–20 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%8.9–14.5 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8–12 | 11% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%7.5–12.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.7%11.2–19.1 | 17.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%31.7–44.2 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%11.5–15.8 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.4%16.2–25.3 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.1–8 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4–5.7 | 5.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.2–12.4 | 10.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.7–3.8 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 West Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Athens
Is Athens a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Athens?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 40%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Athens?
Princeton Community Hospital Assn in Princeton, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Athens’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Athens have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–12.7%), against 8.5% across West 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 Athens 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 Athens.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The West 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.