On CDC estimates, Cricket is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Cricket differs from North Carolina on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cricket. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cricket
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Cricket
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.7%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.2%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 6.4%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, Cricket runs above North Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Cricket adults get no exercise
36.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Cricket is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Cricket is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Cricket, and more people treating it
47.4% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 81.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Cricket is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cricket is healthier than 5%. Against the 2,354 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 29%. 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 Cricket’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Cricket’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cricket is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 27% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Cricket’s median household income is $39,859; among the 2,354 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Cricket compares well: binge drinking, 12% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Cricket adults…
Cricket runs above NC on 9 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cricket adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Cricket
No hospital or community health center in Cricket 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 Cricket; ≈ 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).
How Cricket adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Cricket 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.
23.3% of Cricket adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Cricket and the towns around it
Cricket’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cricket | D | 41.7% | 18.2% | 21.2% | CDC place |
| North Wilkesboro | C | 38.9% | 13.7% | 16.8% | CDC place |
| Wilkesboro | B− | 35.7% | 13.1% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Millers Creek | C | 38% | 13.5% | 17.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cricket adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cricket
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cricket is better than North Carolina on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Cricket’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cricket | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31%26.6–35.8 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%16.8–22.3 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16–20.8 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.7%33.4–50.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.2%15.7–20.8 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.4%42.8–51.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.8%38.2–47.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.5%33.8–41.3 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 12.2%10.7–13.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.7%12.2–17.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.1%21.8–30.6 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2%17.6–25 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.5%30.5–42.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12%9.7–14.4 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.5%26.2–39.2 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.3%14.1–20.7 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.9%77.6–84 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%52.4–59.9 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.3–87.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.5%78.8–83.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.4%60.4–70.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.5%65.7–80.5 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.9%22.9–31.2 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%28.1–39.2 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%19.2–27.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.2%20–28.7 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13–18.2 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.2%9.6–13 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.2–13.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.3%19.1–27.8 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.1%40.4–51.8 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.6%22–29.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.2%17.3–23.2 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.6%11.8–15.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%8.6–11.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.1%12–16.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.4–8.8 | 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 Cricket
Is Cricket a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cricket is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cricket?
CDC estimates 41.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.4% and 50.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cricket?
Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Cricket’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cricket have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.1–20.7%), 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 Cricket more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cricket.
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.