Boston, VA health
Boston differs from Virginia on 24 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (10.5% vs 14.5%) and fewer adults who have had cancer (5.8% vs 7.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing a utility shut-off (15% vs 7.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BostonNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 96 people are less certain, so we show Boston's figures without a grade.
How Boston 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Boston adults…
Bars show Boston; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
VA 23.8%
VA 36%
VA 14.5%
VA 12.2%
Keeping up with care
Share of Boston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
How Boston adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.2% of Boston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Living with a disability
of Boston adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Boston
No hospital or community health center in Boston 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 Boston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Boston
| Measure | Boston | Margin | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 48.2% | 44.2–52.4% | 35.4% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 38.6% | 34.7–42.8% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 45.4% | 38.7–52.3% | 34.5% | worse |
| Arthritis | 30.2% | 27.1–33.4% | 26.2% | worse |
| Depression | 18.7% | 16–21.8% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 20.2% | 16.9–23.8% | 11.1% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5% | 10.4% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4% | 7.7% | better |
| Diabetes | 18.9% | 16.5–21.2% | 12.5% | worse |
| COPD | 7.6% | 6.4–8.8% | 6.2% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7% | 6.1–7.9% | 6.1% | about the same |
| Stroke | 5% | 4.4–5.6% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5% | 12.8–18.3% | 12.2% | worse |
| Binge drink | 10.5% | 8.5–12.7% | 14.5% | better |
| Get no exercise | 33.6% | 28.6–38.7% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.9% | 36.5–49.8% | 36% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 83.7% | 80.8–86.3% | 79.2% | better |
| Dentist visit | 54.7% | 50.9–58.4% | 67.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 88.3% | 86.4–90.1% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 67.7% | 63–72.2% | 67.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.4% | 70.6–83.7% | 78.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 80.7% | 78.1–83% | 76.8% | better |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 8.9–13.5% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.8% | 32.8–43.4% | 33.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 27.9% | 23.8–32.4% | 21.6% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.9% | 15.6–20.3% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 26.5% | 22.8–30.3% | 18.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.9% | 13–16.9% | 12.8% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 26.1% | 21.9–31% | 13.1% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 21.5% | 18.2–25.2% | 10.9% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 15% | 12.8–17.5% | 7.1% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 13.4% | 11.4–15.6% | 7.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 25.2% | 21–29.7% | 10.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.6% | 31.9–41.3% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 19.8% | 17.1–22.7% | 13.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.8% | 14.4–19.2% | 14% | |
| Hearing | 5.7% | 5–6.4% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6% | 5.1–6.8% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8% | 7.7% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.