Health Profile of Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A
Blacksburg Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Blacksburg | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 77.7 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 3.8% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 11.6% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Blacksburg is 77.7 years, about 0.4 years longer than the Virginia average of 77.3 years. The uninsured rate is 3.8%, lower than the Virginia average of 6.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 11.6% of residents, lower than the Virginia average of 16.9%.
Population by Age
Older residents
4,649 residents in Blacksburg are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 311 96 men · 215 women
- 75–84 585 246 men · 339 women
- 65–74 1,273 660 men · 613 women
- 50–64 2,481 1,227 men · 1,254 women
Younger residents
2,783 residents in Blacksburg are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 880 475 boys · 405 girls
- 7–12 778 365 boys · 414 girls
- 3–7 636 296 boys · 340 girls
- 0–3 488 262 boys · 226 girls
About 709 residents in Blacksburg (2.0% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 77.7 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Blacksburg | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 5.3% | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 3.0% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 3.2% | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 28.5% | 36.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of diabetes in Blacksburg is about 56% lower than in Virginia. The rate of cancer in Blacksburg is about 56% lower than in Virginia. The rate of heart disease in Blacksburg is about 53% lower than in Virginia.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Blacksburg | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 13.1% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 18.6% | 15.2% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 20.3% | 24.8% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Blacksburg is about 31% lower than in Virginia. The rate of binge drinking in Blacksburg is about 23% higher than in Virginia. The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Blacksburg is about 18% lower than in Virginia.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 43,659 cigarettes a day, 1.3 million a month, or 15.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 480,253 minutes a day and 175.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Blacksburg is 77.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 4.29 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Blacksburg | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.08 | 6.12 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.1 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Blacksburg is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Blacksburg, Virginia has an overall health index grade of A, making it notably better than Virginia, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Blacksburg, Virginia.
What is the health grade for Blacksburg, Virginia?
Blacksburg, Virginia has a Map AI Health Index grade of A, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A grade means residents are much healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in Blacksburg, Virginia?
People in Blacksburg, Virginia can expect to live 77.7 years on average, about the same as the Virginia average of 77.3.
How many people lack health insurance in Blacksburg, Virginia?
3.8% of residents in Blacksburg, Virginia have no health insurance, about 1 in 26 people, 3.1 points below the Virginia rate of 6.9%.
How common is obesity in Blacksburg, Virginia?
28.5% of adults in Blacksburg, Virginia are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 7.8 points below the Virginia rate of 36.3%.
What is the biggest health concern in Blacksburg, Virginia?
Compared with Virginia as a whole, binge drinking stands out most: the adult rate here is 18.6%, about 23% higher than the Virginia rate of 15.2%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Blacksburg, Virginia go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 43,659 cigarettes a day, 1.3 million a month, or 15.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 480,253 minutes a day and 175.3 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Blacksburg is 77.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 4.29 lifetimes a year.
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