Thomas Wolfe House · Photo: Abe Ezekowitz · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Asheville is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Asheville beats North Carolina on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Asheville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Asheville
Health varies a lot right around Asheville
Grades next door run from Biltmore Forest (A+) to Emma (C). Asheville is an A−. Around town ↓
Asheville is an active town
Only 20% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. The town has 27 miles of trails across 42 parks and preserves. 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 Asheville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Asheville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Asheville is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #74 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 83% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 69%.
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). Asheville’s median household income is $71,102; among the 10,594 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$89K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Asheville and the towns around it
Asheville’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | A− | 31.5% | 10.4% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Woodfin | A− | 30.9% | 9.8% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Emma | C | 37.5% | 12.4% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Biltmore Forest | A+ | 25.1% | 10.4% | 6.5% | CDC place |
| Royal Pines | A | 29.2% | 9.8% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Fletcher | A | 29% | 9.8% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Mills River | A− | 29% | 10.9% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Avery Creek | A+ | 28% | 8.9% | 9.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
27 miles of trails across 42 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Asheville adults…
Asheville runs below NC on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Asheville
2 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Asheville, 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 Asheville; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Asheville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Asheville adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Asheville 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.
11.2% of Asheville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Asheville adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Asheville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Asheville is better than North Carolina on 8 and worse on 0; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Asheville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Asheville | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%14.7–18.8 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.3–17.9 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.5%25.5–38 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.3%30.7–38.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.3%29.6–37.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.5%22.7–28.5 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.9–9.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.3%9.4–13.6 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.6–13.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20%16.8–23.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13–18.8 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.8%24.2–33.8 | 34.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%8–10.6 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.9–81.4 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.4%63.3–69.5 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.6–88.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%73.1–78.3 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%64.9–73.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.4%72.9–84.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%21.8–28.9 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.6%26.1–35.6 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.2%17.1–23.4 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13%11.3–14.9 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%26.5–34 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.3–14.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.7–15.9 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.5–8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%7–8.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.8 | 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 Asheville
Is Asheville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Asheville is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #74 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Asheville?
CDC estimates 31.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.5% and 38%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Asheville?
Adventhealth Hendersonville in Hendersonville, 13.0 miles in a straight line from Asheville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Asheville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–10.6%), 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 Asheville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Asheville.
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.