Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainWithin West Virginia, Follansbee is healthier than 67% of graded towns
Follansbee beats West Virginia on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Follansbee. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Follansbee
Follansbee looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 67% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 18% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Follansbee adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below West Virginia. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Follansbee’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Follansbee’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Follansbee is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #21 of 61 in West Virginia. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 29% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Follansbee’s median household income is $58,371; among the 8,476 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Follansbee compares well: worried about having enough food, 12.2% (U.S. 15%); worried about keeping housing, 10.1% (U.S. 12%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.5% of Follansbee adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Out of every 100 Follansbee adults…
Follansbee runs below WV on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Follansbee
No hospital or community health center in Follansbee 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 Follansbee; ≈ 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.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Follansbee adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Follansbee adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Follansbee 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.
Follansbee and the towns around it
Follansbee has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follansbee | C− | 39.7% | 14.4% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Hooverson Heights | D | 39.4% | 15.7% | 17.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Follansbee adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Follansbee
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Follansbee is better than West Virginia on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Follansbee’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Follansbee | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%18.8–25.8 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%13.8–18.2 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.3–22.2 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%32.1–47.8 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.3–16.6 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.2%38.7–47.8 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.5%37.8–47.2 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.3%33.5–41.3 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.4–13.4 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.2–11.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7–8.9 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.2%7.8–10.6 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.3–4.2 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%10.9–16.6 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%14.2–20 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.7%23.7–34 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.7%12–17.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%36.1–50.7 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.2%5.8–8.9 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%77.8–84.3 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%54.7–62.7 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.6–90.1 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%77.3–82.7 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.4%65.5–75.1 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%69.5–83.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.2%25.1–33.5 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%27.9–38.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.4–25.7 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.2%10–14.7 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.4–11.9 | 12.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.3–10 | 11% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6.1–8.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.5%10.3–15 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36%31–41.1 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.2–19.2 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.3–18.9 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8–10.6 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 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 Follansbee
Is Follansbee a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Follansbee is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #21 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Follansbee?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.1% and 47.8%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Follansbee?
Trinity Medical Ctr East &trinity Medical Ctr West in Steubenville, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Follansbee’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Follansbee have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–8.9%), 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 Follansbee 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 Follansbee.
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.