Albert S. Heck Mansion · Photo: Coal town guy · CC BY-SA 4.0Spencer’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Spencer trails West Virginia on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Spencer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Spencer
Spencer is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Spencer is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Spencer
43.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 55.5% across West Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 35.4% have lost all their teeth (West Virginia 19.5%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Spencer
1 in 6 adults have COPD (17.1%), vs 10.6% across West Virginia. 1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.1%), vs 4.2% across West Virginia. Heart disease is also above the state: 12%, vs 8.7% across West Virginia. In all, Spencer runs above West Virginia on five of 11 chronic conditions. 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 Spencer’s likely range.
What’s behind Spencer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spencer is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Spencer’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 23% 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). Spencer’s median household income is $37,639; among the 1,770 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Spencer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
Out of every 100 Spencer adults…
Spencer runs above WV on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Spencer
1 community health center in Spencer, 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 Spencer; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Spencer adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Spencer runs above West Virginia.
1 in 3 Spencer 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.
33.2% of Spencer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Spencer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer | D− | 43.5% | 20.8% | 27.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Spencer adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Spencer
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Spencer is better than West Virginia on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Spencer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Spencer | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 36.8%31.7–41.9 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 23%20–26.2 | 17.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.5%21.7–27.4 | 21.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.5%35.5–51.5 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 20.8%18.1–23.6 | 15.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.9%45.5–54.2 | 44% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.3%40.6–49.9 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 44%40–47.8 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.6%11.9–15.4 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.8–10.9 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 12%10.6–13.6 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 17.1%14.4–19.8 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 35.4%29.5–41.4 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.6%23.2–32 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 44.3%38.1–50.6 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.5–14.4 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44%36.3–51.9 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.1%9.1–15.3 | 8.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.5–83.4 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43.8%39.3–48.4 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81–86.1 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.3–83.1 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61%54.8–67 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.2%57.3–76.4 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 33.8%29.3–38.4 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%29.1–40 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%20.3–28.2 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.6%21.9–31.8 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.4%14.5–20.5 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.5%14.1–19 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.7%11.6–16 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.2%28–38.6 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 49.8%44.2–55.5 | 39.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 27.5%23.7–31.4 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.9%21.4–28.4 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12%10.6–13.6 | 9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.7%8.3–11.2 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.9%14.4–19.6 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.7%6.5–9 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Spencer
Is Spencer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spencer is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Spencer?
CDC estimates 43.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 51.5%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Spencer?
Roane General Hospital in Spencer, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Spencer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Spencer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–15.3%), 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 Spencer more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Spencer.
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.