Photo: KudzuVine · Public domainWhere Bald Head Island residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bald Head Island, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bald Head Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bald Head Island
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Bald Head Island
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (15.4%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (38.9%), vs 26.9% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Bald Head Island runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Bald Head Island keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (87.7% vs 80%) and dentist visits (78.6% vs 63.6%). Checkups ↓
Bald Head Island adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (25.1% vs 32.5%), frequent mental distress (11% vs 16.5%) and lack of emotional support (15.6% vs 22.5%) all run below North Carolina. Mind & connection ↓
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 Bald Head Island’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Bald Head Island adults…
Bald Head Island runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bald Head Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Bald Head Island adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Bald Head Island does better than North Carolina.
1 in 4 Bald Head Island 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.
Care in and near Bald Head Island
No hospital or community health center in Bald Head Island 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 Bald Head Island; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
21 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
3.7% of Bald Head Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Bald Head Island and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bald Head Island adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Bald Head Island
Why doesn’t Bald Head Island have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Bald Head Island.
What hospital is closest to Bald Head Island?
J Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Bald Head Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Bald Head Island?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Goshen Medical Center - Southport in Southport, 6.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bald Head Island.
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. 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.