Where Dover residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Dover, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dover. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dover
Dental care lags in Dover
53.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 27.3% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Dover
1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.9%), vs 12% across North Carolina. High blood pressure is also above the state: 48%, vs 36.8% across North Carolina. In all, Dover runs above North Carolina on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Dover
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.4%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12.6% vs 8.1%) and housing insecurity (16.8% vs 12.2%) are higher too. 20% 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 Dover’s likely range.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dover adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Dover adults…
Dover runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Dover is an older town: 27% 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 Dover as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20% of Dover adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Dover
No hospital or community health center in Dover 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 Dover; ≈ 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 Dover adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Dover 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.
Dover 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 Dover adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Dover
Why doesn’t Dover have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Dover.
What hospital is closest to Dover?
UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Dover’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Dover?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Kinston Community Health Center in Kinston, 9.0 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dover.
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.