Health · Bedford
Bedford, VA health
Bedford differs from Virginia on 21 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (80% vs 76.8%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (10.6% vs 6.2%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BedfordTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Bedford’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Bedford is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns.
C-Self-rated healthDPhysical distressC-Mental distressC-ObesityDDiabetesC-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 9%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (374)Healthier than 9%
Towns with similar incomes, $53K–$88K (9,637)Healthier than 5%
About what its income would suggest. Bedford does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Bedford could be anywhere from D− to C.
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 Bedford 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. Bedford 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 Bedford 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
41.3% have obesity
0 better4 close8 worse
Habits
34.6% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
79.3% had a checkup
1 better3 close3 worse
Mind & connection
33.3% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
19% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
40.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Bedford adults…
42 of every 100 Bedford adults have high blood pressure
Virginia: 35 in 100 · worse · margin 37.8–45.9%
Bars show Bedford; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Bedford, betterBedford, worseToo close to callVirginia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
34.6% Bedford
VA 23.8%
VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
38.2% Bedford
VA 36%
VA 36%
Binge drinkshare of adults
12.9% Bedford
VA 14.5%
VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18% Bedford
VA 12.2%
VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Bedford 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 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Bedford 10.6% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Bedford adults are doing
1 in 3Bedford adults feel lonely
33.3% · Virginia 33.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Bedford adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.9% · Virginia 21.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Bedford adults lack social or emotional support
22.2% · Virginia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Bedford adults are in frequent mental distress
18.9% · Virginia 15.9% · worse
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 5
Bedford adults worry about having enough food
19% · VA 13.1% · worse
1 in 7
Bedford adults worry about keeping their housing
13.8% · VA 10.9% · worse
1 in 10
Bedford adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10% · VA 7.1% · worse
1 in 10
Bedford adults lack reliable transportation
10.2% · VA 7.4% · worse
18.7% of Bedford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Disability
Living with a disability
40.6%
of Bedford adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs20.9%
Thinking or memory18.1%
Hearing9.6%
Errands alone11.8%
Vision7.3%
Dressing or bathing5.7%
Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Bedford
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Bedford, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERCentra Bedford Memorial HospitalBedford · 0.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careJohnson Health CenterBedford · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.9 mi
Johnson Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Bedford
Bedford Community Dental CenterBedford · 0.9 mi
Bedford Community Health CenterBedford · 1 mi
Johnson Health Center - Lynchburg Women's and Pediatric Health ServicesLynchburg · 19.2 mi
16.7 mi
Community Access Network
5 sites · nearest in Lynchburg
Old Forest Road DentalLynchburg · 16.7 mi
Park ViewLynchburg · 19.5 mi
Park ViewLynchburg · 19.5 mi
5th Street Community Health CenterLynchburg · 20.6 mi
5th Street Community Health CenterLynchburg · 20.6 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBedford's county is a federal shortage area.Bedford County · need score 7 of 25
! Dental careBedford's county is a federal shortage area.Bedford County · need score 12 of 25
! Mental healthBedford'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 Bedford. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Bedford
| Measure | Bedford | Margin | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 41.8% | 37.8–45.9% | 35.4% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 41.5% | 37.3–45.8% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.3% | 34.3–48.8% | 34.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 34% | 30.7–37.6% | 26.2% | worse |
| Depression | 24.9% | 21.4–28.7% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16% | 13.2–19.1% | 11.1% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.7% | 8.8–10.8% | 7.7% | worse |
| Diabetes | 16.7% | 14.7–18.9% | 12.5% | worse |
| COPD | 10.6% | 9.3–12.1% | 6.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4% | 6.1% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18% | 15.5–20.7% | 12.2% | worse |
| Binge drink | 12.9% | 10.5–15.7% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 34.6% | 29.9–39.5% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2% | 32.2–44.4% | 36% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.3% | 75.8–82.6% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58.5% | 55–62.1% | 67.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.8% | 83.7–87.7% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 65.3% | 60.4–70% | 67.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 68.2% | 60.4–75.8% | 78.6% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 80% | 77.6–82.5% | 76.8% | better |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 8.8–12.7% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.3% | 28.5–38.2% | 33.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.2% | 18.8–25.7% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.9% | 16.8–21.1% | 15.9% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 25.7% | 22.6–29% | 18.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.4% | 15.4–19.6% | 12.8% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 19% | 16.1–22% | 13.1% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 13.8% | 11.8–15.9% | 10.9% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 10% | 8.6–11.4% | 7.1% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6% | 7.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 18.7% | 16–21.6% | 10.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.6% | 36.3–45.2% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 20.9% | 18.4–23.7% | 13.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.1% | 16–20.3% | 14% | |
| Hearing | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.7% | 5–6.3% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3% | 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 Bedford door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Virginia figure falls inside it, we don't call Bedford better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Bedford 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.