Lewis-Thornburg Farm · Photo: James Conder · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Denton is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Denton trails North Carolina on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Denton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Denton
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Denton
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.6%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 5%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, Denton runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Denton
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.9%), vs 13.5% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Denton is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Denton is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More Denton adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (41.6%, vs 32% across North Carolina). The biggest difference is vision loss: 7.9% vs 5.3%. Disability ↓
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 Denton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Denton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denton is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 29% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Denton’s median household income is $50,847; among the 6,087 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Denton adults…
Denton runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Denton residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Age-related conditions 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Denton adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Care in and near Denton
No hospital or community health center in Denton 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 Denton; ≈ 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 Denton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Denton adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Denton runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Denton 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.
21% of Denton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Denton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton | D | 38.9% | 14.4% | 21.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Denton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Denton is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Denton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Denton | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%22.2–30.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15–20.2 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.3–23.8 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%31.3–46.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.3–16.6 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%36.2–44.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%33.7–42.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.7%29.1–36.3 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.4–13.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.2–10.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.6%10.5–15 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.3–5.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.6%19.4–28.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.9%17.9–25.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%26.3–37.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.3–16.6 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%26.6–39.1 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%9.4–15.7 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.3–81.4 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.6%56.7–64.4 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%80.3–85.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.4–80.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%58.8–69.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%68.5–82.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.8%25.5–34.1 | 24.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%27.7–38 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%18.8–26.3 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.5%17.4–25.8 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%11.3–16.6 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.7–12 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%9.5–13.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21%16.8–25.5 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.6%35.9–47.1 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.3%17.1–23.6 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.2%17.9–24.4 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.6%9.3–12 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%10.8–14.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 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 Denton
Is Denton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denton is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Denton?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.3% and 46.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Denton?
Lexington Memorial Hospital in Lexington, 14.3 miles in a straight line from Denton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Denton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–15.7%), 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 Denton 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 Denton.
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.