Photo: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Black Mountain is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Black Mountain differs from North Carolina on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Black Mountain. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Black Mountain
Cancer and arthritis run high in Black Mountain
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.4%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.9%), vs 26.9% across North Carolina. In all, Black Mountain runs above North Carolina on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 37% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Black Mountain keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71.8% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (91.4% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Black Mountain adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Black Mountain’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Black Mountain’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Black Mountain is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #50 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 94% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 59%.
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). Black Mountain’s median household income is $77,042; among the 10,819 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Black Mountain adults…
Black Mountain runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Black Mountain is an older town: 37% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Black Mountain as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Black Mountain 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.
6.3% of Black Mountain adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Black Mountain
No hospital or community health center in Black Mountain 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 Black Mountain; ≈ 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.
5.2 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Black Mountain adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Black Mountain does better than North Carolina.
3 in 10 Black Mountain 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.
Black Mountain and the towns around it
Black Mountain’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mountain | A | 29% | 11.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Swannanoa | B+ | 32.4% | 10.9% | 14.6% | CDC place |
| Montreat | A | 23.5% | 7.9% | 7.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Black Mountain adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Black Mountain
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Black Mountain is better than North Carolina on 16 and worse on 3; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Black Mountain’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Black Mountain | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%13.4–18.2 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.6–13.8 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.6–14.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29%23.3–35.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%9.9–13.2 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.5%35.5–43.5 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.6–43 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.5–35.2 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.4%11.3–13.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.9–8.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.1%6.1–8.4 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.7%8–11.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%8.5–12.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.3%16–22.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 13.5%11.2–16.2 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 25.8%21.5–30.6 | 34.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.7–8.4 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%79.1–84.9 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.8%68.9–74.7 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.4%90.2–92.6 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.5%78.9–83.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.4%69.3–77.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.2%76.3–87.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.9–26.4 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28%23.4–32.7 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.2%15.4–21.4 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.3%6.9–9.9 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.6%5.6–7.8 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.8–5.2 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.3%5.1–7.7 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%26.9–34.6 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%12.4–16.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%10.2–13.3 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.2–10.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6–8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.9–3.8 | 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 Black Mountain
Is Black Mountain a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Black Mountain is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #50 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 Black Mountain?
CDC estimates 29% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.3% and 35.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Black Mountain?
The Mcdowell Hospital in Marion, 17.1 miles in a straight line from Black Mountain’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Black Mountain have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–8.4%), 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 Black Mountain 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 Black Mountain.
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.