Photo: Maria Miracoli · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Durham as a whole is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Durham differs from North Carolina on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Durham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Durham
Durham has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers are inside Durham. Duke University Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of two five-star hospitals in town. Getting care ↓
Health varies a lot right around Durham
Grades next door run from Morrisville (A+) to Gorman (C). Durham is an A−. Around town ↓
Heart disease and COPD are less common in Durham
Durham runs below North Carolina on six chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.6% vs 6.6%), COPD (5% vs 7.1%) and cancer (5.7% vs 7.9%). Conditions ↓
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 Durham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Durham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #92 of 289 in North Carolina. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 91% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 45%).
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). Durham’s median household income is $81,619; among the 10,658 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.
At 305,561 residents, Durham is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Durham
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Durham.
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 Durham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Durham adults…
Durham runs below NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Durham and the towns around it
Durham’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | A− | 36.8% | 10.2% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Gorman | C | 40.1% | 14% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Raleigh | A | 30.9% | 9.1% | 10.5% | CDC place |
| Chapel Hill | A | 26.8% | 7.2% | 9% | CDC place |
| Morrisville | A+ | 21.7% | 6.9% | 6.5% | CDC place |
| Cary | A+ | 25.3% | 8.6% | 7.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
83 miles of trails across 85 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Durham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Durham adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Durham 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.
14.6% of Durham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Durham adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Durham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Durham is better than North Carolina on 10 and worse on 5; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Durham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Durham | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%15.3–19.6 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.8%30.3–43.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.2%8.8–11.7 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%28–35.5 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31%27.1–34.9 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.6%18–23.2 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5%4.5–5.6 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10–14.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.6–12.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.3%18.8–26 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.7–18.6 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35%29.6–40.5 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.2–82.9 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.2%60.7–67.5 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.4–87.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73%69.9–75.8 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%61.5–71.1 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%74–86.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20–27 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%28.6–37.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.7–26.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.3%15.3–19.3 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.5–16 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.9–11 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%12.9–16.3 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.6%24.9–32.3 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.5%10.1–13 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.7–15.9 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.8–5.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.9–8.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Durham
Is Durham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Durham is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #92 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Durham?
CDC estimates 36.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 43.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Durham?
Duke University Hospital in Durham, 3.0 miles in a straight line from Durham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Durham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–12.2%), 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 Durham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Durham.
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.