Amherst County Health Data
Amherst County, Virginia
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
58/100
Average
Life Expectancy
75.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.8%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
75.5 yr
State avg 75.1 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.8%
State avg 7.9%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
22
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
64
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
18.2%
State avg 18.6%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
12.7
per 100K residentsCDC: 22.4 per 100K
Dentists
3.2
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
3.2
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Amherst County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Amherst | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 39.6% | 37.9% | 37.6% | 1.7 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 11.7% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 34.9% | 34.3% | 33.5% | 0.6 pts worse than state |
| Depression | 24.8% | 24.3% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Amherst | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 16.3% | 15.3% | 16.3% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 15.9% | 15.8% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 27.1% | 25.8% | 27.0% | 1.3 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Amherst | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 76.9% | 77.2% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 63.6% | 63.2% | 57.3% | near state average |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 76.5% | 76.2% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Amherst | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 19.3% | 18.5% | 18.6% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 37.7% | 38.1% | 37.3% | near state average |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Amherst County nationally on obesity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Amherst County Mental Health Provider Availability Remains Below National Median
Health data brief for Amherst County, Virginia.
In Amherst County, there are 64 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of 250 per 100,000. This trend in clinical access is also reflected in the primary care ratio, which is 22 providers per 100,000 compared to the national median of 70. Life expectancy for residents is 75.5 years, slightly higher than the Virginia average of 75.1 years but lower than the national average of 77 years. Additionally, 18.2% of adults report poor or fair health, higher than the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in Amherst County is 7.8%, which is lower than the national average of 10% and nearly even with the Virginia average of 7.9%. These statistics represent data from the most recent health survey cycles. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Amherst County, Virginia
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Amherst County.
This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.