Photo: Aaron F. Stone · CC BY-SA 4.0Welch’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Welch differs from West Virginia on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Welch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Welch
Dental care lags in Welch
37.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 55.5% across West Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 38% have lost all their teeth (West Virginia 19.5%). Welch’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Welch is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Welch is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Welch
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (32.1%), about twice the West Virginia rate. Utility shut-off threats (22.7% vs 11%) and housing insecurity (25.2% vs 12.4%) are higher too. 36.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 17.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Welch
Welch runs below West Virginia on cancer (5.3% vs 9.6%) and arthritis (30% vs 37.7%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (West Virginia 21%). 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 Welch’s likely range.
What’s behind Welch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Welch is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #58 of 61 in West Virginia. All seven of Welch’s estimates fall in the lowest 6% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 28.9% of adults, against 19.3% across West Virginia and 11.8% 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). Welch’s median household income is $32,969; among the 920 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$41K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Welch compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.3% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Welch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks West Virginia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36.6% of Welch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 17.8% across West Virginia.
Out of every 100 Welch adults…
Welch runs below WV on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Welch residents are 65 or older, vs 21% across West Virginia. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Welch
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Welch, 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 Welch; ≈ 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.
6.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Welch adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Welch runs above West Virginia.
2 in 5 Welch 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.
Welch and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welch | D− | 48.7% | 17.2% | 28.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Welch adults live with a disability (West Virginia 39.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Welch
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Welch is better than West Virginia on 4 and worse on 16; on the rest, the West Virginia figure falls inside Welch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Welch | WV | U.S. | vs WV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.6%29.4–38.2 | 25.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.1–20.8 | 17.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.5%20.7–26.4 | 21.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.7%39.9–57 | 40.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.2%14.8–19.5 | 15.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 45.6%40.7–50.1 | 44% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.3–41.4 | 42.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 30%26.5–33.4 | 37.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.1–13.1 | 12.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.7–5.8 | 9.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 8.7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 4.2% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 38%33.1–43.2 | 19.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 28.9%24.9–33.4 | 19.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.9%35.1–47.1 | 32.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%12.7–18.9 | 14.1% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 51.5%44.3–58.7 | 40.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.6%13.5–20.1 | 8.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.4%71.1–79.3 | 81% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 37.6%33.9–41.4 | 55.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.5%76.5–82.4 | 86.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.5%67.9–74.9 | 79.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.2%51.7–62.6 | 66.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.9%62.5–78.2 | 76.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.8%22.7–30.9 | 30.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.9%32.5–43.6 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27–36.2 | 23% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 32.1%27.2–37.1 | 16.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.2%21.6–29.2 | 12.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22.7%19.9–25.9 | 11% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.7%14.4–19.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.6%31.6–41.8 | 17.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.9%37.6–48.5 | 39.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19%16.6–21.7 | 18.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.3%20.4–26.5 | 18.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.6–8.5 | 9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.4%7.4–9.4 | 5.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.2%11.6–15 | 10.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 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 Welch
Is Welch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Welch is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #58 of 61 in West Virginia. 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 Welch?
CDC estimates 48.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.9% and 57%, against 40.6% across West Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Welch?
Welch Community Hospital in Welch, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Welch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Welch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.5–20.1%), 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 Welch 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 Welch.
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.