Within West Virginia, Shady Spring is healthier than 65% of graded towns
Shady Spring beats West Virginia on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shady Spring. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shady Spring
Shady Spring looks healthier next to West Virginia than next to the country
It’s healthier than 65% of the 61 West Virginia towns we grade, but 17% of towns nationwide. Much of West Virginia scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Shady Spring 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 ↓
Shady Spring has a community health center but no hospital
Community Health Systems is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Beckley ARH Hospital in Beckley, 8.9 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 Shady Spring’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Shady Spring’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shady Spring is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #22 of 61 in West Virginia. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 39% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Shady Spring’s median household income is $67,407; among the 10,258 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 16%, 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.
13% of Shady Spring adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Care in and near Shady Spring
1 community health center in Shady Spring, 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 Shady Spring; ≈ 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 Shady Spring adults…
Shady Spring runs below 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 Shady Spring adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Shady Spring adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Shady Spring 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.
Shady Spring and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shady Spring | C− | 39.2% | 14.8% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Daniels | D− | 41.2% | 17.6% | 18.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shady Spring adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shady Spring
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shady Spring is better than West Virginia on 7 and worse on 0; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Shady Spring’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shady Spring | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23%19.8–26.6 | 25.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.8 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.6–22.7 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%33.3–45.3 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.8%12.9–16.8 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.3%39.4–47.3 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 43.7%39.8–48 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 37.1%33.7–40.7 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.6–13.6 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7–9 | 8.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.2%7.9–10.8 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.6–16.8 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13–19 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%25.1–34.6 | 32.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.7–16.8 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.4%35.7–46.1 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.3–8.6 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%79.3–85.2 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%53.3–60.4 | 55.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.8%86.9–90.5 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.6–82.7 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.8–69.8 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.7%70.3–82.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30%26.2–34 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%30.2–39.3 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%19–25.7 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.6%10.1–15.3 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.2%8.3–12.2 | 12.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.5–10.5 | 11% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.1–8.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13%10.3–15.9 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%31.9–41.3 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%14–19.1 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%14.4–19.4 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%7.9–10.7 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 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 Shady Spring
Is Shady Spring a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shady Spring is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #22 of 61 in West Virginia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shady Spring?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 45.3%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shady Spring?
Beckley ARH Hospital in Beckley, 8.9 miles in a straight line from Shady Spring’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shady Spring have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–8.6%), 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 Shady Spring 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 Shady Spring.
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.