Photo: Townofduck · Public domainWhere Duck residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Duck, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Duck. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Duck
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Duck
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (15.3%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 35.9% of adults have arthritis, vs 26.9% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.3%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Duck runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 40% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Duck keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (86.4% vs 80%) and dentist visits (75.4% vs 63.6%). Checkups ↓
Few Duck adults smoke
7.7% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 13.5% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Duck’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Duck adults…
Duck runs below NC on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Duck is an older town: 40% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Duck as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Duck adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
5.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Duck
No hospital or community health center in Duck 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 Duck; ≈ 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 Duck adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Duck does better than North Carolina.
1 in 4 Duck 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.
3.2% of Duck adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Duck 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 Duck adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Duck
Why doesn’t Duck have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Duck.
What hospital is closest to Duck?
The Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head, 18.6 miles in a straight line from Duck’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Duck.
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.