Dutch Hollow Wine Cellars · Photo: ForestWander · CC BY-SA 3.0 usOn CDC estimates, Dunbar is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Dunbar trails West Virginia on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dunbar. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dunbar
Dunbar looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 41% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 8% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Dunbar is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dunbar is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. 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 West Virginia figure falls outside Dunbar’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Dunbar’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunbar is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #36 of 61 in West Virginia. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 17% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). Dunbar’s median household income is $58,379; among the 8,478 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 10%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few West Virginia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Dunbar is healthier than 41% of graded towns, against 8% nationally.
Out of every 100 Dunbar adults…
On every condition, Dunbar is about the same as West Virginia. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Dunbar
No hospital or community health center in Dunbar 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 Dunbar; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Dunbar adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Dunbar adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Dunbar 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.
19.1% of Dunbar adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Dunbar and the towns around it
Dunbar’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunbar | D | 41.4% | 16.5% | 18.6% | CDC place |
| South Charleston | D | 40.9% | 15.8% | 19% | CDC place |
| West Dunbar | — | — | — | — | |
| Charleston | D | 40.2% | 15.6% | 17.7% | CDC place |
West Dunbar: 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 Dunbar adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dunbar
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dunbar is better than West Virginia on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Dunbar’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dunbar | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%21.7–27.7 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–18.8 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.6–23.5 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%36.2–46.4 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.5%14.4–18.6 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 47.4%43.7–50.9 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.4%39.6–47 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38.1%34.9–41.2 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.8–13.8 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.8–10.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10%8.7–11.3 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.7%18.5–25.2 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%16.1–21.5 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 32.8%28.8–37.3 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.3–16.1 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.5%37.6–45.7 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.1–9.1 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%79.7–85.2 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.1%53–59.5 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.2%86.5–89.8 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.7–82.4 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.5%65.8–73.2 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%70.8–81.5 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.1%26.5–33.6 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%30.1–37.8 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%21.2–27.5 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%15.6–21 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.1%12.2–16.1 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13%11.5–14.7 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.2–10.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.1%16.5–22 | 17.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.2%36.1–44.3 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.6%17.2–22.1 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16–20.5 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.7–9.9 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.3–6.6 | 5.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 10.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 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 Dunbar
Is Dunbar a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunbar is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #36 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 10%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dunbar?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.2% and 46.4%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dunbar?
Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Dunbar’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dunbar have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–9.1%), 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 Dunbar 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 Dunbar.
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.