New Hill Historic District · Photo: KimWrenn · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Apex is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Apex differs from North Carolina on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Apex. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Apex
COPD and stroke are less common in Apex
Apex runs below North Carolina on eight chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.6% vs 7.1%), stroke (2% vs 3.6%) and heart disease (3.7% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%). Conditions ↓
Apex is an active town
Only 14.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Few Apex adults smoke
8.2% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 13.5% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Apex’s likely range.
What’s behind Apex’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Apex is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #5 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 90%.
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). Apex’s median household income is $144,135; among the 3,206 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($108K–$180K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Apex adults…
Apex runs below NC on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Apex residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 25 parks and preserves
Care in and near Apex
1 community health center in Apex, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Apex; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Apex adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Apex adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Apex does better than North Carolina.
3 in 10 Apex 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.7% of Apex adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Apex and the towns around it
Apex’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | A+ | 26.6% | 7.5% | 8.2% | CDC place |
| Cary | A+ | 25.3% | 8.6% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Holly Springs | A+ | 27.8% | 7.3% | 8.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Apex adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Apex
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Apex is better than North Carolina on 22 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Apex’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Apex | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.9%9.5–12.4 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.3%7.3–9.4 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.3–15.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.6%22.6–31 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.5%6.5–8.6 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.8%24.8–31 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.6%29.3–36.1 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.2%17–21.6 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6–7.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.6%3.2–4 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.8–2.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.9%5.5–8.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.2%7–9.6 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 14.7%12.5–17.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.7–19 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%26.6–34.6 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%5.1–6.9 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.4–82.3 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73%70.2–75.6 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.1%88.7–91.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.2%67.7–74.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%60.7–69.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%73–84.4 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20.6–26.7 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30%26.3–33.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.8%16.2–21.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.7%5.8–7.8 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.7–4.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.7%4–5.6 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20%17.5–22.9 | 32% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.5%6.5–8.6 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4–5.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.5–3 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2%1.9–2.2 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Apex
Is Apex a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Apex is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #5 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Apex?
CDC estimates 26.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.6% and 31%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Apex?
Wakemed, Cary Hospital in Cary, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Apex’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Apex have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–6.9%), 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 Apex more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Apex.
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.