Little Beaver Dam · Photo: Brian M. Powell (user Bitmapped on en.wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Daniels is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Daniels trails West Virginia on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Daniels. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Daniels
Daniels is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Daniels is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and heart disease run high in Daniels
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 9.6% across West Virginia. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.2%), vs 8.7% across West Virginia. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%), and cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. 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 Daniels’ likely range.
What’s behind Daniels’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Daniels is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 15% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Daniels’ median household income is $60,278; among the 9,004 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Daniels adults…
Daniels runs above WV on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Daniels is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Daniels as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Daniels
No hospital or community health center in Daniels 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 Daniels; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Daniels adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Daniels adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Daniels 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.
17.4% of Daniels adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Daniels and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniels | D− | 41.2% | 17.6% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Beaver | — | — | — | — | |
| Shady Spring | C− | 39.2% | 14.8% | 15.9% | CDC place |
Beaver: 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 Daniels adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Daniels
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Daniels is better than West Virginia on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Daniels’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Daniels | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.1%24–32.6 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%16.9–22.4 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.5–23.8 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.2%35.2–47.6 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.4–20.4 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 48.3%44.3–52.4 | 44% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 46.1%42.1–50.4 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 41.8%38.3–45.6 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–14 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.2–12.5 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%8.9–11.8 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.2%10.1–14.7 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.6%17.2–23.9 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%15.4–22.7 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 35.1%30–41.1 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.5–15.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.7%35.1–45.4 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.2–10.7 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.9%79.9–85.7 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.5%54.6–61.8 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.1–90 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.9%79.4–84.3 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.6%59.5–68.5 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%71.1–83.3 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.2%26.4–34.3 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.5%30.5–40.1 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%19.7–26.9 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.8%12.7–19.2 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.5–14 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9–12.4 | 11% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.3–10.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.4%14–21 | 17.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.7%37.9–48.2 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.4%18.2–25.1 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19%16.4–22.1 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.6%9.2–12.2 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.2–7.3 | 5.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%9.7–13.7 | 10.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.2–6 | 4.6% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Daniels
Is Daniels a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Daniels is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health. 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 Daniels?
CDC estimates 41.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 47.6%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Daniels?
Beckley ARH Hospital in Beckley, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Daniels’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Daniels have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–10.7%), 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 Daniels 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 Daniels.
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.