Cape Hatteras Light Station · Photo: Henryhartley · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Buxton is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Buxton differs from North Carolina on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buxton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buxton
The nearest ER is 49 miles from Buxton
The closest emergency room is The Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head, 48.5 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Ocracoke Health Center is closer (26.1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Buxton
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.6%), vs 26.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Buxton keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71.3% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (91% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Buxton adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 11 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 Buxton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Buxton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buxton is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 86% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 49%).
Care in and near Buxton
No hospital or community health center in Buxton 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 Buxton; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Buxton adults…
Buxton runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buxton 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.
6.9% of Buxton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Buxton adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Buxton 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.
Buxton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buxton adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buxton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buxton is better than North Carolina on 11 and worse on 3; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Buxton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buxton | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.9%13.6–20.6 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%10.8–15.2 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.4–16.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.6%24.8–40.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.1–14.2 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.7%34.9–44.4 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%35.8–45.1 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.6%27.5–35.5 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%9.8–12.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.5–8.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.7%6.1–9.6 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%7.9–12.3 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%9.8–16.5 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.6%16.9–26.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.5–17.1 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.8%21.3–33.1 | 34.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%5.8–10.1 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.4–85 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.3%68–74.6 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91%89.3–92.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.7%77.4–83.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.2%66.5–75.9 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.8%71.5–85.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.4–28.1 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.7%23.7–34.1 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.2%15.6–23.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.4%6.9–12.3 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.5%5.8–9.4 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%3.9–6 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.3–6.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.9%4.9–9.4 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%25.2–35.7 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.1%11.4–17.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.5%10.3–14.9 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.4–10 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.6–5.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%5.7–8.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%2.9–4.3 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Buxton
Is Buxton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buxton is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ 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 Buxton?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.8% and 40.6%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Buxton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–10.1%), 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 Buxton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buxton.
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.