Health · Clifton Forge

Clifton Forge, VA health

Clifton Forge differs from Virginia on 19 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (82.2% vs 76.8%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (12% vs 6.2%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Clifton Forge
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Clifton Forge’s Health Grade: D

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Clifton Forge is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns, and than 44% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressCMental distressDObesityDDiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 9%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (374)Healthier than 8%
Towns with similar incomes, $30K–$50K (2,257)Healthier than 44%

Better than its income would suggest. Clifton Forge is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Clifton Forge 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 Clifton Forge 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. Clifton Forge 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 Clifton Forge 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

Out of every 100 Clifton Forge adults…

46 of every 100 Clifton Forge adults have high blood pressure
Virginia: 35 in 100 · worse · margin 41.6–50.5%

Bars show Clifton Forge; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Clifton Forge, betterClifton Forge, worseToo close to callVirginia
Get no exerciseshare of adults 32.6% Clifton Forge
VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 37.1% Clifton Forge
VA 36%
Binge drinkshare of adults 12% Clifton Forge
VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 18.8% Clifton Forge
VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Clifton Forge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.

82%
Yearly checkup
VA 79%
57%
Dentist visit
VA 68%
87%
Cholesterol check
VA 88%
67%
Colon screening
VA 67%
75%
Mammogram
VA 79%
82%
Taking BP meds
VA 77%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Clifton Forge 10.1% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection

How Clifton Forge adults are doing

1 in 3Clifton Forge adults feel lonely
34.4% · Virginia 33.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Clifton Forge adults have been diagnosed with depression
25% · Virginia 21.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Clifton Forge adults lack social or emotional support
21.7% · Virginia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Clifton Forge adults are in frequent mental distress
18.4% · 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 6
Clifton Forge adults worry about having enough food
18.1% · VA 13.1% · worse
1 in 8
Clifton Forge adults worry about keeping their housing
12.6% · VA 10.9% · about the same
1 in 11
Clifton Forge adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.1% · VA 7.1% · worse
1 in 10
Clifton Forge adults lack reliable transportation
9.6% · VA 7.4% · worse

17.9% of Clifton Forge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.

Disability

Living with a disability

42.1%

of Clifton Forge adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs22.9%
Thinking or memory18.2%
Hearing10.4%
Errands alone12.1%
Vision7.5%
Dressing or bathing5.9%

Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Clifton Forge

No hospital or community health center in Clifton Forge itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERLewisgale Hospital AlleghanyLow Moor · 7.7 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCarilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital★★★★★ · 21.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careRockbridge Area Free ClinicLexington · 23 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.7 mi
Lewisgale Hospital Alleghany
Low Moor · ★★★★★
ER
11.7 mi
Bath Community Hospital
Hot Springs · not rated
ERRural critical access
21.2 mi
Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital
Lexington · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
23 mi
Rockbridge Area Free Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Lexington
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
25.2 mi
Rainelle Medical Center
2 sites · nearest in White Sulphur Springs
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
30.3 mi
Pocahontas Memorial Hospital
Buckeye · not rated
ERRural critical access
! Primary careClifton Forge's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Alleghany County/Covington City · need score 19 of 25
! Dental careClifton Forge's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Alleghany County/Covington City · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthClifton Forge's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Alleghany Highlands MHCA · need score 14 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 Clifton Forge. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Clifton Forge
MeasureClifton ForgeMarginVirginia
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure46%41.6–50.5%35.4%worse
High cholesterol43.6%39–48.4%38%worse
Obesity41.8%34–50.4%34.5%about the same
Arthritis38.1%34.3–42%26.2%worse
Depression25%21.4–29.1%21.8%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)19.9%16.1–23.9%11.1%worse
Asthma11.8%10.4–13.4%10.4%about the same
Cancer (not skin)10.6%9.6–11.8%7.7%worse
Diabetes17.8%15.5–20.5%12.5%worse
COPD12%10.2–14.2%6.2%worse
Heart disease10.4%9.2–11.9%6.1%worse
Stroke5.6%4.9–6.3%3.3%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18.8%15.6–22.3%12.2%worse
Binge drink12%9.6–14.7%14.5%about the same
Get no exercise32.6%27.3–38.3%23.8%worse
Sleep under 7 hours37.1%29.5–44.5%36%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup81.5%78–84.7%79.2%about the same
Dentist visit57%52.6–60.9%67.9%worse
Cholesterol check87.1%84.9–88.9%87.5%about the same
Colon screening67.2%61.1–72.5%67.4%about the same
Mammogram74.5%65.2–81.7%78.6%about the same
Taking BP meds82.2%79.6–84.6%76.8%better
No health insurance10.1%7.9–12.5%8.7%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely34.4%29.7–39.4%33.8%about the same
Lack emotional support21.7%18.6–25.1%21.6%about the same
Frequent mental distress18.4%16.1–20.8%15.9%worse
Fair or poor health26.7%23–30.9%18.1%worse
Frequent physical distress18.4%16–21.1%12.8%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity18.1%15–21.4%13.1%worse
Housing insecurity12.6%10.6–14.8%10.9%about the same
Utility shut-off threat9.1%7.7–10.6%7.1%worse
No reliable transportation9.6%8.2–11.1%7.4%worse
Receive SNAP17.9%14.5–21.4%10.7%
Disability
Any disability42.1%36.9–47.5%30%
Walking or climbing stairs22.9%19.6–26.5%13.5%
Thinking or memory18.2%15.7–20.9%14%
Hearing10.4%9.1–11.9%6.4%
Vision7.5%6.5–8.6%4.7%
Dressing or bathing5.9%5.1–6.9%3.5%
Errands alone12.1%10.4–14%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 Clifton Forge door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Virginia figure falls inside it, we don't call Clifton Forge better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Clifton Forge 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.

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