Health · Big Stone Gap
Big Stone Gap, VA health
Big Stone Gap differs from Virginia on 19 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (18.9% vs 12.2%) and more adults with COPD (9.2% vs 6.2%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Big Stone GapTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Big Stone Gap’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Big Stone Gap is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns.
C-Self-rated healthC-Physical distressDMental distressDObesityCDiabetesDSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 13%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (374)Healthier than 12%
Towns with similar incomes, $41K–$68K (6,674)Healthier than 24%
About what its income would suggest. Big Stone Gap does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Big Stone Gap 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 Big Stone Gap 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. Big Stone Gap 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 Big Stone Gap 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
44.2% have obesity
0 better6 close6 worse
Habits
30.4% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
77.2% had a checkup
0 better3 close4 worse
Mind & connection
37.6% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
19% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
37.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Big Stone Gap adults…
41 of every 100 Big Stone Gap adults have high blood pressure
Virginia: 35 in 100 · worse · margin 36.4–45.7%
Bars show Big Stone Gap; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Big Stone Gap, betterBig Stone Gap, worseToo close to callVirginia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
30.4% Big Stone Gap
VA 23.8%
VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.7% Big Stone Gap
VA 36%
VA 36%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15% Big Stone Gap
VA 14.5%
VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.9% Big Stone Gap
VA 12.2%
VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Stone Gap 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 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Big Stone Gap 11.8% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Big Stone Gap adults are doing
1 in 3Big Stone Gap adults feel lonely
37.6% · Virginia 33.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Big Stone Gap adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.7% · Virginia 21.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Big Stone Gap adults lack social or emotional support
24.2% · Virginia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Big Stone Gap adults are in frequent mental distress
19.7% · 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
Big Stone Gap adults worry about having enough food
19% · VA 13.1% · worse
1 in 7
Big Stone Gap adults worry about keeping their housing
14.8% · VA 10.9% · worse
1 in 10
Big Stone Gap adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.3% · VA 7.1% · worse
1 in 9
Big Stone Gap adults lack reliable transportation
10.6% · VA 7.4% · worse
17.4% of Big Stone Gap adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Disability
Living with a disability
37.6%
of Big Stone Gap adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs16.9%
Thinking or memory18.7%
Hearing7.9%
Errands alone10.5%
Vision6.2%
Dressing or bathing4.8%
Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Big Stone Gap
1 hospital in Big Stone Gap, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERLonesome Pine HospitalBig Stone Gap · 1.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSt. Charles Health CouncilAppalachia · 3.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.1 mi
St. Charles Health Council
3 sites · nearest in Appalachia
Appalachia Family Health CenterAppalachia · 3.1 mi
St. Charles Respiratory Care CtrSaint Charles · 16 mi
St. Charles ClinicSaint Charles · 16 mi
13.7 mi
Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation
3 sites · nearest in Cumberland
Cumberland Medical/Dental ClinicCumberland · 13.7 mi
Mchc Purchasing/ReceivingWhitesburg · 17.7 mi
Call CenterWhitesburg · 17.7 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBig Stone Gap's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wise/Norton City · need score 14 of 25
! Dental careBig Stone Gap's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wise County/Norton City · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthBig Stone Gap's county is a federal shortage area.Planning District I MHCA · need score 18 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 Big Stone Gap. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Big Stone Gap
| Measure | Big Stone Gap | Margin | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.6% | 36.4–45.7% | 35.4% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 37.6% | 33.6–42.4% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 44.2% | 36.8–53.2% | 34.5% | worse |
| Arthritis | 29.2% | 26.1–32.9% | 26.2% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.7% | 21.2–29.1% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14% | 11.4–17% | 11.1% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.1% | 9.8–12.7% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8% | 7.2–8.9% | 7.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 14% | 12.2–16.4% | 12.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.2% | 7.8–10.7% | 6.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6% | 6.1% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9% | 15.7–22.6% | 12.2% | worse |
| Binge drink | 15% | 12.1–18.5% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.4% | 25.3–36.5% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7% | 30.6–43.3% | 36% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.2% | 73.1–81.2% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 60.3% | 56.9–63.8% | 67.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83% | 80.1–85.5% | 87.5% | worse |
| Colon screening | 65.3% | 60.2–70.3% | 67.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 73.2% | 65.8–80.1% | 78.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 73.4% | 70.2–76.5% | 76.8% | worse |
| No health insurance | 11.8% | 9.2–14.7% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.6% | 32.4–43.1% | 33.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.2% | 20.6–28.3% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.7% | 17.4–22.5% | 15.9% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 23.6% | 20–28% | 18.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 16% | 13.9–18.5% | 12.8% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 19% | 15.4–23% | 13.1% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 14.8% | 12.2–17.5% | 10.9% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 10.3% | 8.8–12% | 7.1% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 10.6% | 8.9–12.4% | 7.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 17.4% | 14.1–21% | 10.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6% | 32.7–43.6% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.9% | 14.4–19.6% | 13.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.7% | 16.1–21.6% | 14% | |
| Hearing | 7.9% | 7–9% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.8% | 4.1–5.5% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 10.5% | 9–12.3% | 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 Big Stone Gap door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Virginia figure falls inside it, we don't call Big Stone Gap better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Big Stone Gap 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.