Health · Amherst
Amherst, VA health
Amherst differs from Virginia on 13 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (82.6% vs 76.8%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had a stroke (5% vs 3.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AmherstTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Amherst’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Amherst is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns.
CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressBMental distressCObesityDDiabetesB-SmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 30%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (374)Healthier than 27%
Towns with similar incomes, $53K–$89K (9,637)Healthier than 32%
About what its income would suggest. Amherst does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Amherst could be anywhere from D to B.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Virginia ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Amherst with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Amherst uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Amherst compares with Virginia
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
38.7% have obesity
0 better4 close8 worse
Habits
30.3% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
82% had a checkup
1 better5 close1 worse
Mind & connection
31.7% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
14.4% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
37.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Amherst adults…
44 of every 100 Amherst adults have high blood pressure
Virginia: 35 in 100 · worse · margin 39.9–48.9%
Bars show Amherst; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Amherst, betterAmherst, worseToo close to callVirginia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
30.3% Amherst
VA 23.8%
VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.2% Amherst
VA 36%
VA 36%
Binge drinkshare of adults
12.1% Amherst
VA 14.5%
VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
14.3% Amherst
VA 12.2%
VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Amherst adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Yearly checkup
VA 79%Dentist visit
VA 68%Cholesterol check
VA 88%Colon screening
VA 67%Mammogram
VA 79%Taking BP meds
VA 77%1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Amherst 8.9% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Amherst adults are doing
1 in 3Amherst adults feel lonely
31.7% · Virginia 33.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Amherst adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.9% · Virginia 21.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Amherst adults lack social or emotional support
21.7% · Virginia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 6Amherst adults are in frequent mental distress
16.3% · Virginia 15.9% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 7
Amherst adults worry about having enough food
14.4% · VA 13.1% · about the same
1 in 9
Amherst adults worry about keeping their housing
11.1% · VA 10.9% · about the same
1 in 13
Amherst adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.5% · VA 7.1% · about the same
1 in 13
Amherst adults lack reliable transportation
8% · VA 7.4% · about the same
12.8% of Amherst adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Disability
Living with a disability
37.6%
of Amherst adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs19.8%
Thinking or memory15.3%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone10%
Vision6.3%
Dressing or bathing4.8%
Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Amherst
1 community health center in Amherst, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERCentra Health - Lynchburg Gen HospitalLynchburg · 13 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBlue Ridge Health CenterAmherst · 0.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.2 mi
Blue Ridge Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Amherst
Blue Ridge Medical Center--AmherstAmherst · 0.2 mi
Blue Ridge Medical CenterArrington · 10.8 mi
Blue Ridge Dental CenterArrington · 10.8 mi
8.7 mi
Johnson Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Madison Heights
Amherst County Community Health CenterMadison Heights · 8.7 mi
James River Dental ClinicMadison Heights · 9.3 mi
Johnson Health CenterLynchburg · 12.7 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careAmherst's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Amherst County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careAmherst's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Amherst County · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthAmherst's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Horizon/Central Virginia MHCA · need score 16 of 25
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 Amherst. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Amherst
| Measure | Amherst | Margin | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 44.4% | 39.9–48.9% | 35.4% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 41.5% | 37–46.2% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.7% | 31–47.2% | 34.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 35.1% | 31.3–39% | 26.2% | worse |
| Depression | 21.9% | 18.6–25.6% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.4% | 12.4–18.7% | 11.1% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.3% | 9.9–12.7% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.6% | 9.6–11.8% | 7.7% | worse |
| Diabetes | 16.4% | 14.1–18.9% | 12.5% | worse |
| COPD | 9.1% | 7.5–10.9% | 6.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.1% | 7.9–10.3% | 6.1% | worse |
| Stroke | 5% | 4.4–5.7% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.3% | 11.8–17% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 12.1% | 9.7–14.7% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.3% | 25–36.1% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.2% | 29.5–43.1% | 36% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82% | 78.7–85% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 63.2% | 59.4–66.7% | 67.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 88.8% | 87–90.4% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68.8% | 63.7–73.4% | 67.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.7% | 69.2–83.3% | 78.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 82.6% | 80.1–84.9% | 76.8% | better |
| No health insurance | 8.9% | 7.1–11.1% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.7% | 26.8–37.2% | 33.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 21.7% | 18.2–25.5% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.3% | 14.3–18.5% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.5% | 19–26.3% | 18.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.8% | 13.6–18.2% | 12.8% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14.4% | 11.8–17.2% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.1% | 9.2–13% | 10.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.5% | 6.4–8.8% | 7.1% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8% | 6.8–9.3% | 7.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 12.8% | 10.4–15.4% | 10.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6% | 32.6–42.9% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 19.8% | 16.7–23.1% | 13.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.3% | 13.2–17.7% | 14% | |
| Hearing | 9.3% | 8–10.6% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.8% | 4.1–5.6% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 10% | 8.5–11.8% | 7.7% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Amherst door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Virginia figure falls inside it, we don't call Amherst better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Amherst directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.