Dortch House · Photo: Waterman, Thomas T., creator · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Dortches is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns
Dortches differs from North Carolina on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dortches. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dortches
Stroke, cancer and arthritis run high in Dortches
1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.6%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Arthritis is also above the state: 32.4%, vs 26.9% across North Carolina. In all, Dortches runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Dortches, and more people treating it
42.1% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Dortches’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Dortches’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dortches is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 71% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Dortches’ median household income is $74,500; among the 10,855 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$93K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Dortches adults…
Dortches runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dortches adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Dortches
No hospital or community health center in Dortches 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 Dortches; ≈ 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).
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.
How Dortches adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Dortches 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.
11.9% of Dortches adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Dortches and the towns around it
Dortches’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dortches | B− | 35.4% | 14.3% | 14% | CDC place |
| Rocky Mount | D | 42.4% | 17.7% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Red Oak | A− | 32% | 11.2% | 12% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dortches adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dortches
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dortches is better than North Carolina on 4 and worse on 7; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Dortches’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dortches | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%17.2–22.9 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%11.9–15.6 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.8–17.9 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%27.5–43.5 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.3–16.4 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.1%37.3–46.7 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%35.3–45.1 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%28.4–36.2 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%6.9–8.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.2–9.5 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.3%13.4–19.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.8–16.5 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%20.7–29.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.6%10.9–16.5 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32%25.9–38.6 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.7–9.7 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%79.1–85.6 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.3%63.8–70.8 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.1%88.5–91.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.4%78.3–84 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.4%64.4–74 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%73.3–86.1 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%19.6–27.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%25.7–35.8 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%18.7–25.7 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.1%12.1–16.6 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.6–13.1 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.6–8.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.9%10.1–14 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.1%28.4–37.7 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.7%14.4–19.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.2–16 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.1–9.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5.1 | 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 Dortches
Is Dortches a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dortches is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dortches?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.5% and 43.5%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dortches?
UNC Health Nash in Rocky Mount, 2.7 miles in a straight line from Dortches’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dortches have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.7%), 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 Dortches 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 Dortches.
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.