Health · Dayton
Dayton, VA health
On most measures Dayton looks like Virginia as a whole. It has fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (5.6% vs 7.1%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (8.8% vs 7.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for DaytonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B+
Dayton’s Health Grade: B+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Dayton is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns and 61% of Virginia towns.
B+Self-rated healthBPhysical distressB+Mental distressA-ObesityB+DiabetesB+SmokingB+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 70%
Less healthyHealthier
Virginia towns we grade (374)Healthier than 61%
Towns with similar incomes, $57K–$95K (9,882)Healthier than 83%
About what its income would suggest. Dayton does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Dayton 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 Dayton 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. Dayton 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 Dayton 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
32% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
23.4% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.3% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
33.4% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
10.9% face food insecurity
1 better4 close0 worse
Disability
31% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Dayton adults…
34 of every 100 Dayton adults have high blood pressure
Virginia: 35 in 100 · too close to call · margin 29.7–37.7%
Bars show Dayton; the black tick is Virginia. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Dayton, betterDayton, worseToo close to callVirginia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
23.4% Dayton
VA 23.8%
VA 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
32% Dayton
VA 36%
VA 36%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.4% Dayton
VA 14.5%
VA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
12.4% Dayton
VA 12.2%
VA 12.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Dayton 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 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Dayton 9.6% · Virginia 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Dayton adults are doing
1 in 3Dayton adults feel lonely
33.4% · Virginia 33.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Dayton adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.7% · Virginia 21.8% · too close to call
1 in 5Dayton adults lack social or emotional support
19.7% · Virginia 21.6% · too close to call
1 in 6Dayton adults are in frequent mental distress
16.2% · 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 9
Dayton adults worry about having enough food
10.9% · VA 13.1% · about the same
1 in 11
Dayton adults worry about keeping their housing
9.2% · VA 10.9% · about the same
1 in 18
Dayton adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.6% · VA 7.1% · better
1 in 16
Dayton adults lack reliable transportation
6.3% · VA 7.4% · about the same
8.4% of Dayton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Disability
Living with a disability
31%
of Dayton adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs13.5%
Thinking or memory14.4%
Hearing6.9%
Errands alone7.6%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Black tick: Virginia. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Dayton
No hospital or community health center in Dayton itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERSentara Rmh Medical CenterHarrisonburg · 4.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHarrisonburg Community Health CenterHarrisonburg · 4.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4.1 mi
Harrisonburg Community Health Center
4 sites · nearest in Harrisonburg
Hchc Stone PortHarrisonburg · 4.1 mi
Hchc DowntownHarrisonburg · 4.4 mi
Hchc Park ViewHarrisonburg · 5.4 mi
Hchc ElktonElkton · 17.2 mi
26.3 mi
Pendleton Community Care
2 sites · nearest in Franklin
Pendleton Community Care ClinicFranklin · 26.3 mi
North Fork Primary CareRiverton · 35.3 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careDayton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Harrisonburg/Rockingham · need score 14 of 25
! Dental careDayton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Harrisonburg/Rockingham · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthDayton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Rockingham County/Harrisonburg City · need score 17 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 Dayton. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Dayton
| Measure | Dayton | Margin | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 33.7% | 29.7–37.7% | 35.4% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.8% | 34.4–43% | 38% | about the same |
| Obesity | 32% | 25.2–39% | 34.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.3% | 24–30.7% | 26.2% | about the same |
| Depression | 23.7% | 20.1–27.4% | 21.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.3% | 8.2–12.7% | 11.1% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7% | 7.7% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11% | 9.3–12.8% | 12.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 6.5% | 5.2–8% | 6.2% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.2% | 5.3–7.2% | 6.1% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.1% | 2.7–3.6% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4% | 9.5–15.5% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.4% | 12.5–18.4% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 23.4% | 18.8–28.2% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32% | 26.6–37.7% | 36% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.3% | 74.5–81.7% | 79.2% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 69.6% | 66.2–72.8% | 67.9% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 87.4% | 85–89.4% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68.9% | 63.8–73.6% | 67.4% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 80.8% | 74.1–86.1% | 78.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.8% | 73.7–79.6% | 76.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 7.1–12.2% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.4% | 28.3–38.8% | 33.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 19.7% | 16.3–23.5% | 21.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.2% | 14–18.7% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 17.6% | 14.4–21% | 18.1% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.3% | 11.3–15.6% | 12.8% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 10.9% | 8.3–14% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 9.2% | 7.3–11.3% | 10.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.6% | 4.5–6.8% | 7.1% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6.3% | 5.2–7.7% | 7.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 8.4% | 6.1–11% | 10.7% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31% | 26.2–36% | 30% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.5% | 10.9–16.1% | 13.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.4% | 12.1–17% | 14% | |
| Hearing | 6.9% | 5.9–7.9% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 4.3% | 3.6–5% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.2% | 2.6–3.9% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 7.6% | 6.3–9.1% | 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 Dayton door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Virginia figure falls inside it, we don't call Dayton better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Dayton 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.