Photo: Gerry D · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Benson is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Benson trails North Carolina on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Benson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benson
Dental care lags in Benson
51.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 19% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Benson
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.1%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (11.1% vs 8.1%) and no reliable transportation (11.1% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 18.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Benson
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. Diabetes is also above the state: 14.8%, vs 12% across North Carolina. In all, Benson runs above North Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Benson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Benson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benson is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #233 of 289 in North Carolina. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 36% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Benson’s median household income is $67,102; among the 10,220 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Benson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.6% of Benson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Benson adults…
Benson runs above NC on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Benson
No hospital or community health center in Benson 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 Benson; ≈ 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.
0.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Benson adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Benson 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.
Benson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson | C− | 38% | 14.8% | 17.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Benson adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Benson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Benson is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Benson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Benson | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.2%21–27.7 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.5–17.5 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.3–20.8 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%30.5–45.9 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.8%12.7–16.8 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%36.4–44.9 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.8–41.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.4%27–33.8 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7–8.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%8.2–10.8 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19%15.5–22.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%14.6–19.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%24.9–34.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.1%10.6–15.8 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%30.9–43.8 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.6%11.4–15.9 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%77–83.5 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.7%47.7–55.7 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.5–88.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.7–80.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%59–69.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%68.6–83 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%21.7–29.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%28.6–38.8 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%20.4–27.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%18.2–24.2 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.9%13.8–18.2 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.6%15.8–21.3 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.2%34.4–43.9 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.8%16.3–21.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.7–20.2 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 4% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Benson
Is Benson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benson is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #233 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Benson?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 45.9%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Benson?
Betsy Johnson Regional Hospital in Dunn, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Benson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Benson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–15.9%), 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 Benson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benson.
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.