Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, Ripley is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Ripley trails West Virginia on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ripley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ripley
Ripley is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ripley is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Ripley looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 25% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 3% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Ripley has a community health center but no hospital
Wirt County Health Service Association is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Jackson General Hospital, 2.5 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Ripley’s likely range.
What’s behind Ripley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ripley is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #47 of 61 in West Virginia. All seven of Ripley’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 18.9% of adults, against 17.3% across West Virginia and 13% 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). Ripley’s median household income is $41,518; among the 2,851 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few West Virginia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Ripley is healthier than 25% of graded towns, against 3% nationally.
Care in and near Ripley
1 community health center in Ripley, 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 Ripley; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Ripley adults…
Ripley runs above WV on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
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 Ripley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Ripley adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Ripley 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.
20% of Ripley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Ripley and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley | D− | 42.8% | 18% | 19.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ripley adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ripley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ripley is better than West Virginia on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Ripley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ripley | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28%23.6–32.8 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.2–21.9 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.5–24 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%35.8–50.4 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18%15.5–20.6 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 47.6%43.3–51.9 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45%40.6–49.4 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 40.8%37.1–44.6 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.6%11.1–14.2 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.8–12 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%8.7–11.6 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 12.3%10.1–14.7 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.2–5.7 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.8%14–19.7 | 19.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%16.1–23.8 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 36.5%30.7–42.8 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.8%10.4–15.4 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.5%37.7–51.3 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%6.4–11.3 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%78.8–85.1 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%48–55.9 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.2–88.9 | 86.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.7%79.3–83.9 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.1–71.1 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%69.1–83.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.3%27.3–35.7 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%27.7–38.4 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%18.3–26.3 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.1%13.2–21.6 | 16.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%9.8–15.1 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%9.6–13.8 | 11% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%7.8–11.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20%15.6–24.8 | 17.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.9%38.5–49.7 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.9%18.4–25.3 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.6%16.6–22.9 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%5.6–8 | 5.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.6%10.5–15 | 10.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.4–6.4 | 4.6% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Ripley
Is Ripley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ripley is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #47 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ripley?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.8% and 50.4%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ripley?
Jackson General Hospital in Ripley, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Ripley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ripley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–11.3%), 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 Ripley more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ripley.
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.