Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Where Lester residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Lester, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lester
Making ends meet is harder in Lester
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.4%), vs 16.2% across West Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (14.1% vs 11%) and housing insecurity (15.7% vs 12.4%) are higher too. 24.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 17.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Lester
47.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 55.5% across West Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 26.8% have lost all their teeth (West Virginia 19.5%). Checkups ↓
COPD and diabetes run high in Lester
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.9%), vs 10.6% across West Virginia. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (18.7%), vs 15.9% across West Virginia. In all, Lester runs above West Virginia on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%), and COPD and diabetes 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 Lester’s likely range.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.3% of Lester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
Out of every 100 Lester adults…
Lester runs above WV on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Lester is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. COPD, stroke and diabetes rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Lester as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Lester
No hospital or community health center in Lester 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 Lester; ≈ 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.
How Lester adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
2 in 5 Lester 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.
Lester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lester adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Lester
Why doesn’t Lester have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Lester.
What hospital is closest to Lester?
Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, 6.6 miles in a straight line from Lester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Lester?
19 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is New River Health Association -Lester Square in Sophia, 3.2 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lester.
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. 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.