Photo: GreatSmokies · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bryson City is healthier than 69%
Bryson City trails North Carolina on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bryson City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bryson City
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Bryson City
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Cancer is also above the state: 10.4%, vs 7.9% across North Carolina. In all, Bryson City runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Bryson City
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.1%), vs 13.5% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Bryson City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bryson City is healthier than 24%. Against the 3,731 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 69%. Health Grade ↓
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 Bryson City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Bryson City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bryson City is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 38% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Bryson City’s median household income is $44,167; among the 3,731 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 69%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Bryson City adults…
Bryson City runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Bryson City
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Bryson City, 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 Bryson City; ≈ 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 Bryson City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Bryson City adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Bryson City 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.
14.2% of Bryson City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Bryson City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson City | C− | 38.8% | 14.3% | 17.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bryson City adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bryson City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bryson City is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Bryson City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bryson City | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.3%20–26.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.7–18.1 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.6–20.2 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%30.7–47.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.3–16.4 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.2%37.7–46.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%36–45.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.2%29.5–36.9 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.8–9.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%8.8–12 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.7%13.6–20.3 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%14.4–20.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%22.5–32.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%11.1–16.4 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%26.2–39.9 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11%8.8–13.4 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.2%77.8–84.3 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58%54.1–62.1 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.5%85.6–89.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.6–82 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%60–70 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%67.9–83.1 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%22.8–31 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%27.5–37.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.4%18–25 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.3%13.3–19.3 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.7–13.6 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%6.9–9.5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.5–10.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.2%11.5–17.1 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.2%34.1–44.3 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.3%16.5–22.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%14.9–19.5 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.2–12.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 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 Bryson City
Is Bryson City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bryson City is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bryson City?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 47.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bryson City?
DLP Swain County Hospital in Bryson City, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Bryson City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Bryson City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–13.4%), 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 Bryson City 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 Bryson City.
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.