On CDC estimates, Tornado is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Tornado beats West Virginia on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tornado. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tornado
COPD and stroke are less common in Tornado
Tornado runs below West Virginia on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (8.1% vs 10.6%), stroke (3.3% vs 4.2%) and heart disease (7.1% vs 8.7%). Conditions ↓
Tornado is an active town
Only 27.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 32.8% 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 Tornado’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Tornado’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tornado is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns. 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 6%).
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). Tornado’s median household income is $83,000; among the 10,534 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$104K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Tornado compares well: lost all teeth (ages 65+), 9.9% (U.S. 12.3%); no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6.3% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Tornado adults…
Tornado runs below WV on 5 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.
Care in and near Tornado
No hospital or community health center in Tornado 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 Tornado; ≈ 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 Tornado adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
How Tornado adults are doing
About the same as West Virginia on each measure.
1 in 3 Tornado 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.
12.1% of Tornado adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Tornado and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | C− | 38.9% | 13.2% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tornado adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tornado
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tornado is better than West Virginia on 12 and worse on 0; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Tornado’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tornado | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%17.3–23.3 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.2–17.3 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.3–23.4 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%33.6–44.1 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.3–15.1 | 15.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%38.5–46.3 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.4%38.5–46.1 | 42.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.1%31.7–38.4 | 37.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 9.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.2–8.1 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 8.1%6.9–9.5 | 10.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 4.2% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%8.1–11.8 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18%15–21.4 | 19.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.6%23.5–32.1 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.5–19.2 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%35.9–43.9 | 40.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%4.8–8 | 8.5% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%77.8–83.9 | 81% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.4%60.2–66.5 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%86.9–90.6 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%74.6–80.8 | 79.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.6%65.9–73.3 | 66.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%71.5–82 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.8%27.1–34.5 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%29.3–36.9 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%20.3–26.9 | 23% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.7%10.2–15.3 | 16.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9–12.8 | 12.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%7.9–11 | 11% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%5.8–8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.1%9.6–14.7 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.8–39.5 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.9–17.6 | 18.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%14.6–19.4 | 18.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.6–4.8 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.6–10.2 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3–4 | 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 Tornado
Is Tornado a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tornado is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Tornado?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 44.1%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tornado?
Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, 7.4 miles in a straight line from Tornado’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tornado have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.8–8%), 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 Tornado 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 Tornado.
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.