Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Advance is healthier than 41%
Advance differs from North Carolina on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Advance. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Advance
Against towns with similar incomes, Advance’s lead shrinks
Advance is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns, but 41% of the 6,403 towns with similar household incomes ($87K–$144K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Advance
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.7%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Fewer Advance adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the North Carolina figure falls outside Advance’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Advance’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Advance is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 72% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 59%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Advance’s median household income is $115,391; among the 6,403 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$144K), it’s healthier than 41%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Advance adults…
Advance runs above NC on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.3% of Advance adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Advance
No hospital or community health center in Advance itself. These are the nearest.
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 Advance; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Advance adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Advance adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Advance adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Advance and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance | B+ | 33.2% | 10.9% | 13.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Advance adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Advance
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Advance is better than North Carolina on 6 and worse on 2; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Advance’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Advance | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.2%14.4–20.3 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.3–15.1 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14–18.4 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.2%25.6–41.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.2–12.7 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%32.6–41.6 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.1–42.4 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.1–34.5 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%6.3–9 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.8%10.4–15.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%11.2–16.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.2%18.1–26.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.4–18.4 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.5%25.5–38.1 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.2–9.9 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%76.4–83.4 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.6%63.9–71.1 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.3–90.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%74.6–81 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%61.8–71.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%72.8–85.7 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.2%22.2–30.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.2%26–36.6 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%16.8–24 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.6%8.5–13.1 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.7%7.1–10.5 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%4.8–6.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.2–7.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%6.4–10.6 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.6%27–36.4 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14%11.8–16.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.1–16.5 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.6–9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.1–4.2 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the North Carolina figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Advance
Is Advance a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Advance is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Advance?
CDC estimates 33.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.6% and 41.6%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Advance?
Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-salem, 10.3 miles in a straight line from Advance’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Advance have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–9.9%), against 10.4% across North Carolina.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Advance more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Advance.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.