Belhaven Commercial Historic District · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Bent Creek is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Bent Creek differs from North Carolina on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bent Creek. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bent Creek
Cancer runs high in Bent Creek
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.7%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Bent Creek keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (72.3% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (90.5% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Bent Creek is an active town
Only 17.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% 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 Bent Creek’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Bent Creek’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bent Creek is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 92% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 73%.
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). Bent Creek’s median household income is $72,176; among the 10,686 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Bent Creek adults…
Bent Creek runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bent Creek adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
6.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Bent Creek
No hospital or community health center in Bent Creek 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 Bent Creek; ≈ 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).
How Bent Creek adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bent Creek does better than North Carolina.
3 in 10 Bent Creek 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.
6.4% of Bent Creek adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Bent Creek and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bent Creek | A | 29.7% | 10.6% | 10.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bent Creek adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bent Creek
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bent Creek is better than North Carolina on 14 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Bent Creek’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bent Creek | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.8%11.8–18.3 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%9.6–13.7 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.5–15.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.7%23.7–36.3 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%8.9–12.5 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.4–40.7 | 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 | 28.4%24.9–31.9 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%5.7–7.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%4.9–8.1 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.8–3.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.1%6.5–9.9 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.8%7.9–14 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.9%14–22.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.7–18.3 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.4%21.9–31.2 | 34.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.1%5.2–9.7 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.7–83.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.3%69.4–75.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.5%88.5–92.2 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.5–81.4 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.5%68.5–76.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%70.1–83 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20.1–27 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.6%22.9–32.6 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.2%15–21.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.4%6.1–11.4 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7%5.3–9 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%3.7–5.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.1–6.4 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.4%4.4–9 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.1%23.5–32.9 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%10–15.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%9.5–14.1 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%6.9–9.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.2–4.8 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.1–7.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.5–3.9 | 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 Bent Creek
Is Bent Creek a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bent Creek is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bent Creek?
CDC estimates 29.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.7% and 36.3%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bent Creek?
Adventhealth Hendersonville in Hendersonville, 11.0 miles in a straight line from Bent Creek’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bent Creek have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–9.7%), 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 Bent Creek 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 Bent Creek.
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.