Tyrrell County Courthouse · Photo: HarmonyReignPope · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Columbia residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Columbia, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbia
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Columbia
1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (18.2%), vs 12% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 9.8%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, Columbia runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and stroke, diabetes and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Columbia adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.8%), vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Columbia
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.6%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12.7% vs 8.1%) and housing insecurity (18.8% vs 12.2%) are higher too. 22.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% 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 Columbia’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Columbia adults…
Columbia runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Columbia is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Columbia as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
3 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.5% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Columbia
No hospital or community health center in Columbia 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 Columbia; ≈ 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 Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Columbia adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Columbia 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.
Columbia and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbia adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Columbia
Why doesn’t Columbia have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Columbia.
What hospital is closest to Columbia?
Vidant Chowan Hospital in Edenton, 23.0 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Columbia?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Creswell Primary Care in Creswell, 9.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbia.
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. 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.