Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Shepherdstown is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Shepherdstown differs from West Virginia on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shepherdstown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shepherdstown
COPD and heart disease are less common in Shepherdstown
Shepherdstown runs below West Virginia on nine chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.4% vs 10.6%), heart disease (3.8% vs 8.7%) and stroke (1.9% vs 4.2%). A young population is part of it: only 15% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%). Conditions ↓
Shepherdstown is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Shepherdstown is healthier than 83%. Against the 9,686 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 98%. Health Grade ↓
Shepherdstown is an active town
Only 19% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 32.8% across West Virginia. Habits ↓
Few Shepherdstown adults smoke
9.2% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 19.3% across West Virginia. Habits ↓
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 Shepherdstown’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Shepherdstown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shepherdstown is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Shepherdstown’s median household income is $63,750; among the 9,686 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 98%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Shepherdstown adults…
Shepherdstown runs below WV on 10 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Shepherdstown
No hospital or community health center in Shepherdstown 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 Shepherdstown; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Shepherdstown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Shepherdstown adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
4 in 10 Shepherdstown 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.
8.5% of Shepherdstown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Shepherdstown and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherdstown | A− | 30% | 7.2% | 9.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shepherdstown adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shepherdstown
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shepherdstown is better than West Virginia on 20 and worse on 3; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Shepherdstown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shepherdstown | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.2%11.5–18 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.1%8.5–12.2 | 17.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.6%17.8–25.6 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30%23.9–36.6 | 40.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 15.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.8%22.7–29 | 44% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.2%24.9–31.7 | 42.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.8%17.6–22.1 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.6–14.2 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.4%3.8–5.3 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11–16.4 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.2%7.1–11.8 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19%14.8–24 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%13.9–20.3 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%28.7–39.8 | 40.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4–8.6 | 8.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%72.8–80.7 | 81% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.1%64.8–71.5 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.3%76.6–85 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.8%63.2–68.1 | 79.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74%69.9–77.9 | 66.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79%72.6–84.9 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.6%26.1–35 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.8%31.4–42.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%17.4–26.4 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.3%7.3–14.8 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%6.5–11.3 | 12.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.3–8.4 | 11% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%5.7–10.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%6.1–12.1 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%22.7–34.1 | 39.2% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.3%7.1–9.8 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%13.3–22.1 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.4%3.8–5 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.7–3.9 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%5.9–10.1 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.7–2.3 | 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 Shepherdstown
Is Shepherdstown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shepherdstown is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shepherdstown?
CDC estimates 30% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.9% and 36.6%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shepherdstown?
Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Shepherdstown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shepherdstown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4–8.6%), 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 Shepherdstown more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Shepherdstown.
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.