Photo: Elizabeth B. Thomsen Ethomsen · CC BY 2.5On CDC estimates, Carrboro is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns
Carrboro differs from North Carolina on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carrboro. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carrboro
COPD and stroke are less common in Carrboro
Carrboro runs below North Carolina on nine chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.8% vs 7.1%), stroke (2% vs 3.6%) and heart disease (3.7% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%). Conditions ↓
Carrboro is an active town
Only 15.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. The town has 29 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Few Carrboro adults smoke
8.5% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 13.5% 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 Carrboro’s likely range.
What’s behind Carrboro’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carrboro is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, #13 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 78%.
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). Carrboro’s median household income is $85,743; among the 10,333 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 100%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Carrboro adults…
Carrboro runs below NC on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Carrboro residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
29 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Care in and near Carrboro
1 community health center in Carrboro, 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 Carrboro; ≈ 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 Carrboro adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Carrboro adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Carrboro does better than North Carolina.
1 in 3 Carrboro 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.
6.9% of Carrboro adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Carrboro and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrboro | A+ | 28% | 7.4% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Chapel Hill | A | 26.8% | 7.2% | 9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carrboro adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carrboro
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carrboro is better than North Carolina on 21 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Carrboro’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carrboro | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12%10.3–13.8 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.8%7.7–10 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.3–17.1 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28%22–34.9 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.4%6.3–8.6 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.7%22.4–29.4 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.8%26–33.8 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 18.7%16.3–21.2 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.8–11.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.8–2.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.6%6–9.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.5%7.1–10 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.9%13–19.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.3–20.8 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.6%25–36.4 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%6.5–9 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%73.6–81 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.4%67.1–73.4 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.1–88.6 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70%66.6–73.4 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.4%63.6–72.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.9%75.6–87 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.1–28.6 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.4%26.7–36.3 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.2%16.3–22.4 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.8%8.3–11.7 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.2–10 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.9%5.7–8.3 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 22.8%19.4–26.5 | 32% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.6%6.6–8.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.5–13.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.5%4–5.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%3–3.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2–2.5 | 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 Carrboro
Is Carrboro a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carrboro is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #13 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carrboro?
CDC estimates 28% of adults have obesity, likely between 22% and 34.9%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carrboro?
UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Carrboro’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carrboro have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–9%), 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 Carrboro more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carrboro.
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.