Within West Virginia, Pinch is healthier than 83% of graded towns
Pinch beats West Virginia on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pinch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pinch
Pinch looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 83% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 29% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Pinch is an older town
28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Conditions like heart disease and arthritis become more common with age, so keep that in mind when comparing Pinch with the state. Conditions ↓
Pinch keeps up with checkups
It beats West Virginia on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (66.7% vs 55.5%) and cholesterol checks (90% vs 86.8%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Pinch 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 ↓
Nearly everyone in Pinch is insured
Only 5.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.5% across West Virginia. Checkups ↓
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 Pinch’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Pinch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pinch is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #11 of 61 in West Virginia. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 45% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Pinch’s median household income is $76,741; among the 10,822 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 23%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pinch compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 5.9% (U.S. 11%); dentist visit in the past year, 66.7% (U.S. 63.2%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 90% (U.S. 87.1%).
Out of every 100 Pinch adults…
Pinch runs below WV on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Pinch is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Pinch as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pinch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.4% of Pinch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Care in and near Pinch
No hospital or community health center in Pinch 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 Pinch; ≈ 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 Pinch adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Pinch 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.
Pinch and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pinch adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pinch
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pinch is better than West Virginia on 11 and worse on 0; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Pinch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pinch | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%16.8–23.9 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%12.7–17.4 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.5–21.8 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.8%32.6–42.9 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%11.8–16 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 44.6%40.6–48.2 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44%40.2–47.7 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.2%33.7–40.5 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%6.9–9.2 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%6.8–10.2 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.1–4.3 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11.2–15.8 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%12.9–20.1 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%23.3–33 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.4–17.7 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1%33.3–41.2 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%4.4–8 | 8.5% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.4–85.2 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.7%63.7–69.6 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90%88.1–91.9 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.3–82.8 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.5%68.1–75 | 66.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.6%74.6–84.3 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.3%25.8–32.9 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%27.8–35.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.1%18.7–25.6 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%8.9–15.1 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%7.6–12 | 12.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%6.9–10.4 | 11% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.1–7.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.4%8.3–14.9 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4%30.8–40.3 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%13.4–19.1 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.1–18.2 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.6–5.1 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.2–10.5 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%2.9–4.2 | 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 Pinch
Is Pinch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pinch is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #11 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pinch?
CDC estimates 37.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 42.9%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pinch?
Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Pinch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pinch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–8%), 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 Pinch 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 Pinch.
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.