McMechen Lockmaster Houses on the Ohio River · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, McMechen is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
McMechen trails West Virginia on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for McMechen. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in McMechen
McMechen is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, McMechen 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 McMechen
22.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 16.2% across West Virginia. Utility shut-off threats (15.5% vs 11%) and no reliable transportation (11.9% vs 8.9%) are higher too. 28.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 17.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in McMechen
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.2%), vs 10.6% across West Virginia. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5.1%), vs 4.2% across West Virginia. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.3%, vs 8.7% across West Virginia. In all, McMechen runs above West Virginia on four of 11 chronic conditions. 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 McMechen’s likely range.
What’s behind McMechen’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, McMechen is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of McMechen’s estimates fall in the lowest 13% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 23.8% 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). McMechen’s median household income is $40,446; among the 2,514 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 9%, 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.
28.6% of McMechen adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Out of every 100 McMechen adults…
McMechen runs above WV on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near McMechen
No hospital or community health center in McMechen 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 McMechen; ≈ 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 McMechen adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How McMechen adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 McMechen 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.
McMechen and the towns around it
McMechen’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of McMechen adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for McMechen
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, McMechen is better than West Virginia on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside McMechen’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | McMechen | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.2%26.7–35.7 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18–23.6 | 17.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.8%20.9–26.9 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.5%34.1–49.3 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.4%16.1–21.2 | 15.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.1%42.8–51.6 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.3%37.9–46.8 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 41.1%37.3–44.9 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 13.2%11.6–14.9 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.7 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.2%12.1–16.5 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.5–5.9 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24%19.8–29 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.9%21.5–30.5 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.8%33–44.9 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11–16.5 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.3%38.3–52.4 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%7.6–12.6 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.5%76.9–83.8 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.7%44.7–52.7 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.4%81.7–86.7 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.7–82.7 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%61.8–71.7 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%63.4–79.6 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 33.2%28.9–37.7 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%26.7–36.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%19.2–26.7 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.3%18–26.8 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.8%12.9–18.8 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.5%13.1–18 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10–13.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28.6%23.3–33.8 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.2%39.7–50.8 | 39.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23%19.8–26.5 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.4%19.2–25.7 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.2%12.2–16.3 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 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 McMechen
Is McMechen a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, McMechen is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in McMechen?
CDC estimates 41.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 49.3%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to McMechen?
Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, 3.0 miles in a straight line from McMechen’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in McMechen have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–12.6%), 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 McMechen 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 McMechen.
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.