Mud River Covered Bridge · Photo: William Edmund Barrett · Public domainWithin West Virginia, Milton is healthier than 69% of graded towns
Milton beats West Virginia on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Milton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Milton
Milton looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 69% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 18% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Milton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Milton is healthier than 18%. Against the 4,484 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 53%. Health Grade ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Milton
Milton runs below West Virginia on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (8.6% vs 10.6%), heart disease (7.1% vs 8.7%) and stroke (3.5% vs 4.2%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%). 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 Milton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Milton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milton is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #20 of 61 in West Virginia. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 32% 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). Milton’s median household income is $46,429; among the 4,484 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Milton adults…
Milton runs below WV on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Milton residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Milton
1 community health center in Milton, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Milton; ≈ 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 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Milton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Milton adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Milton 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.
13.8% of Milton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Milton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Milton adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Milton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Milton is better than West Virginia on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Milton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Milton | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%18.5–26 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.5–18.2 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.5–24.1 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%36.8–48.9 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.5–15.3 | 15.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%34–41.7 | 44% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40%36.1–44 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.8%32.4–39.3 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.5%11–14.2 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.2–8.1 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.6%7.1–10.3 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.5%3–4 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.8%13.9–20.3 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.6%13.3–20.3 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%23.7–33.9 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.5–17.9 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40%34.8–45.5 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%5.5–9.5 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77.2–83.6 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59%55.5–62.6 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.5–88.9 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.9%76.2–81.4 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.9%63.2–72.3 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%66.5–80.7 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 32.4%28.4–36.6 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%31–40.3 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.3–26.5 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%10.3–16.4 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.7%8.7–13.1 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.7%8.1–11.5 | 11% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.5–9.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.8%10.8–17.4 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.7%31.9–41.8 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%13.4–18.9 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.1–20.9 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.6–8.7 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4–5.5 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.2–11.5 | 10.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.1–4.4 | 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 Milton
Is Milton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milton is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #20 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 53%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Milton?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.8% and 48.9%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Milton?
St. Marys Medical Center in Huntington, 14.4 miles in a straight line from Milton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Milton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–9.5%), 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 Milton 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 Milton.
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.