Health · Dahlgren
Dahlgren, VA health
On most measures Dahlgren looks like Virginia as a whole. It has fewer adults with heart disease (5.1% vs 6.1%) and fewer adults who have had cancer (6.5% vs 7.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for DahlgrenTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B
Dahlgren’s Health Grade: B
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Dahlgren is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns and 55% of Virginia towns.
B+Self-rated healthA-Physical distressC+Mental distressB-ObesityBDiabetesB+SmokingB+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 63%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (374)Healthier than 55%
Towns with similar incomes, $83K–$138K (6,727)Healthier than 35%
Wealth explains part of the grade. Dahlgren is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Dahlgren could be anywhere from C to A.
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 Dahlgren 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. Dahlgren 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 Dahlgren 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
36.6% have obesity
2 better10 close0 worse
Habits
23.4% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.3% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
35% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
13.5% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
29.7% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Dahlgren adults…
33 of every 100 Dahlgren adults have high blood pressure
Virginia: 35 in 100 · too close to call · margin 29.4–37%
Bars show Dahlgren; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Dahlgren, betterDahlgren, worseToo close to callVirginia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
23.4% Dahlgren
VA 23.8%
VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.1% Dahlgren
VA 36%
VA 36%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.3% Dahlgren
VA 14.5%
VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
13% Dahlgren
VA 12.2%
VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Dahlgren 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 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Dahlgren 8.1% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Dahlgren adults are doing
1 in 3Dahlgren adults feel lonely
35% · Virginia 33.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Dahlgren adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.4% · Virginia 21.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Dahlgren adults lack social or emotional support
22.9% · Virginia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 6Dahlgren adults are in frequent mental distress
17.6% · 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
Dahlgren adults worry about having enough food
13.5% · VA 13.1% · about the same
1 in 8
Dahlgren adults worry about keeping their housing
11.9% · VA 10.9% · about the same
1 in 13
Dahlgren adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.7% · VA 7.1% · about the same
1 in 13
Dahlgren adults lack reliable transportation
7.8% · VA 7.4% · about the same
11% of Dahlgren adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Disability
Living with a disability
29.7%
of Dahlgren adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12.5%
Thinking or memory15%
Hearing5.3%
Errands alone7.8%
Vision4.4%
Dressing or bathing3.3%
Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Dahlgren
No hospital or community health center in Dahlgren itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERUniversity of Md Charles Regional Medical CenterLa Plata · 13.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careGreater Baden Medical ServicesLa Plata · 13.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.9 mi
Greater Baden Medical Services
5 sites · nearest in La Plata
Greater Baden Medical Service at La PlataLa Plata · 13.9 mi
Greater Baden Medical Service at Bryans RoadBryans Road · 20 mi
Greater Baden Medical Service at LeonardtownLeonardtown · 23.1 mi
Greater Baden Medical Service at BrandywineBrandywine · 24.8 mi
Greater Baden Medical Services at Brandywine Wic ProgramBrandywine · 24.8 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careDahlgren's county is a federal shortage area.King George · need score 13 of 25
! Dental careDahlgren's county is a federal shortage area.King George County · need score 8 of 25
! Mental healthDahlgren's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Rappahannock Area MHCA · need score 15 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 Dahlgren. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Dahlgren
| Measure | Dahlgren | Margin | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 33.1% | 29.4–37% | 35.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.3% | 31.3–39.7% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.6% | 29.1–45% | 34.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 24.8% | 21.9–27.9% | 26.2% | about the same |
| Depression | 23.4% | 20–27.1% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 11.1% | 9–13.4% | 11.1% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.3% | 10–12.6% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2% | 7.7% | better |
| Diabetes | 11.3% | 9.8–13% | 12.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 5.7% | 4.7–6.6% | 6.2% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8% | 6.1% | better |
| Stroke | 3% | 2.7–3.4% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13% | 10.4–15.6% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.3% | 12.7–18.3% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 23.4% | 19.1–27.9% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1% | 29.7–43% | 36% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.3% | 74.7–81.6% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 69.2% | 65.7–72.3% | 67.9% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 86.7% | 84.5–88.6% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 67.4% | 62.6–71.9% | 67.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 79.7% | 72.7–85.5% | 78.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75.1% | 72.2–77.9% | 76.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 6.4–10% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35% | 29.4–40.9% | 33.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.9% | 19.2–27% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.6% | 15.4–20% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 17.5% | 14.7–20.4% | 18.1% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.5% | 10.8–14.3% | 12.8% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.5% | 10.8–16.5% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.9% | 9.8–14.3% | 10.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.7% | 6.4–9.1% | 7.1% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.8% | 6.6–9.2% | 7.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11% | 8.6–13.7% | 10.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.7% | 25.2–34.3% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.5% | 10.6–14.5% | 13.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15% | 12.7–17.2% | 14% | |
| Hearing | 5.3% | 4.7–6% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 4.4% | 3.8–5% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.3% | 2.9–3.8% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 7.8% | 6.5–8.9% | 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 Dahlgren door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Virginia figure falls inside it, we don't call Dahlgren better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Dahlgren 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.