Winchester Health Data Reveals High Chronic Conditions and Child Poverty Rates

The Winchester City Council's Public Health and Safety Committee convened on August 20, 2025, to discuss critical health data impacting the community. The meeting focused on various health metrics, including demographics, access to care, chronic conditions, and social drivers of health.

The committee reviewed approximately 90 different health measures, highlighting significant concerns within the city. Key data points included a chronic hepatitis C rate of 210 per 100,000 residents in Winchester, starkly higher than Virginia's average of 51 per 100,000. Adult obesity rates in Winchester stood at 37%, slightly above the state average of 35%. Additionally, the city reported 52 deaths due to diabetes per 100,000, compared to Virginia's 33.

The meeting also addressed socioeconomic factors, revealing that 29% of children in Winchester live in poverty, significantly higher than the state average of 12%. Teen pregnancy rates were reported at 28.4 per 1,000 females, compared to Virginia's 15. Furthermore, violent crime in Winchester was noted at 300 incidents, while the state average was 245.

Committee members acknowledged the complexity of addressing these issues, recognizing that many of the challenges cannot be resolved within a short timeframe. The discussions underscored the need for ongoing monitoring and strategic planning to improve public health outcomes in Winchester. The committee plans to continue evaluating these metrics and develop targeted interventions to address the highlighted concerns.