Nelson County
VirginiaFIPS 51125
Nelson County has no hospital. Residents must travel to neighboring counties for hospital care.
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Nelson County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 10.5% | 12.0% | ▼ |
| Adult Obesity | 34.8% | 38.6% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 12.2% | 7.9% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 8.1 | 6.0 | ▼ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 8,481.349 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Nelson County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 15.3% | — | |
| Obesity | 35.5% | — | |
| Depression | 22.9% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 15.5% | — | |
| COPD | 9.0% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 14.1% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 8.8% | — | |
| Stroke | 4.5% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 43.0% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 20.5% | — | |
| Disability | 35.3% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 26.7% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 12.5% | — | |
| Uninsured | 8.1% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Nelson County has no hospital. 65 of Virginia's counties are hospital deserts.
See all hospital deserts in VirginiaSocial Vulnerability Index
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Nearest Hospitals
Since Nelson County has no hospital, residents travel to nearby facilities.
| Hospital | County | Beds | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Health | Augusta | 255 | 21.9 mi |
| Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents | Augusta | 24 | 25.4 mi |
| Uva Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital | Charlottesville | 50 | 25.4 mi |
| Western State Hospital | Staunton | 246 | 25.8 mi |
| University of Virginia Childrens Rehab | Albemarle | 30 | 26.6 mi |
Related Pages
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.