Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Beckley is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Beckley trails West Virginia on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Beckley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Beckley
Beckley is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Beckley is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Beckley
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23%), vs 16.2% across West Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (16% vs 11%) and housing insecurity (17% vs 12.4%) are higher too. 26.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 17.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes and stroke run high in Beckley
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.2%), vs 15.9% across West Virginia. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5%), vs 4.2% across West Virginia. Conditions ↓
Beckley has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Beckley. Getting care ↓
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 Beckley’s likely range.
What’s behind Beckley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Beckley is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #55 of 61 in West Virginia. All seven of Beckley’s estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 22.8% of adults, against 21.1% across West Virginia and 15.9% nationally.
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). Beckley’s median household income is $45,826; among the 4,309 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.4% of Beckley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Out of every 100 Beckley adults…
Beckley runs above WV on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Beckley
3 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Beckley, 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 Beckley; ≈ 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 West Virginia
Share of adults, with the West Virginia figure marked.
2.2 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Beckley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Beckley adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
2 in 5 Beckley 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.
Beckley and the towns around it
Beckley has the best Health Grade of the 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Beckley adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Beckley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Beckley is better than West Virginia on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Beckley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Beckley | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.9%27.8–34.2 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.6–21.9 | 17.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.8%20.4–25.2 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%38.9–50.9 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.2%17.1–21.5 | 15.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 48.7%44.9–52.4 | 44% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.8%39.8–47.8 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 39.2%35.9–42.5 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.1%11.7–14.7 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 12.1%10.8–13.3 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.6–5.4 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.9%19.1–26.4 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.6%18–23.3 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.7%33.3–42.2 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%10.1–14.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.8%40–50.5 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.9–11 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.7%79.7–85.5 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.6%45.7–52.9 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.6–88.1 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%78–82.7 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%60.1–68.9 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.7%70.1–82.8 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.1%26.5–33.9 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.5%32.7–42.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.3–29.5 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23%20–25.8 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%14.8–19.2 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16%14.1–17.9 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.2%10.7–13.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.4%23.3–29.3 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.6%39.5–47.9 | 39.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.1%19.8–24.5 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.9%18.7–23.1 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–10.1 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13%11.7–14.3 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.5–6.5 | 4.6% | 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 West Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Beckley
Is Beckley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Beckley is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #55 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Beckley?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.9% and 50.9%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Beckley?
Beckley ARH Hospital in Beckley, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Beckley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Beckley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–11%), 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 Beckley more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Beckley.
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.