Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, East Spencer is healthier than 73%
East Spencer differs from North Carolina on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Spencer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Spencer
Making ends meet is harder in East Spencer
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.9%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (14.8% vs 8.1%) and housing insecurity (21.6% vs 12.2%) are higher too. 24.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in East Spencer
53.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 25.9% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
More East Spencer adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.8%), vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
East Spencer is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, East Spencer is healthier than 14%. Against the 1,164 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 73%. Health Grade ↓
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 East Spencer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind East Spencer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Spencer is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 39% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). East Spencer’s median household income is $34,417; among the 1,164 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 73%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where East Spencer compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.5% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.6% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.4% of East Spencer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Keeping up with care
Share of East Spencer 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.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 East Spencer adults…
East Spencer runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
East Spencer is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Stroke and diabetes rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in East Spencer as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near East Spencer
No hospital or community health center in East Spencer 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 East Spencer; ≈ 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 East Spencer adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, East Spencer runs above North Carolina.
4 in 10 East Spencer 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.
East Spencer and the towns around it
East Spencer’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Spencer | D | 44.2% | 17.1% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Salisbury | C− | 39.6% | 14.6% | 16% | CDC place |
| Spencer | C− | 39.6% | 14.2% | 17.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Spencer adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Spencer
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Spencer is better than North Carolina on 2 and worse on 17; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside East Spencer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Spencer | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26%22.3–30 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.8–16.9 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.1–20.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.2%36.2–52.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.1%14.9–19.6 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.7%40.5–49.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%30.9–39.4 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%25.9–32.7 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.5%11–14.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.1–7.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.9%6.7–9.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.9%21.3–30.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%14.4–20.3 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.8%27.4–38.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.6%9.4–14.2 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32–46.3 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.4%10.8–15.9 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.3%79.1–85.4 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.2%49.2–57.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.6%85.6–89.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.6–81.8 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%57.9–68.8 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.7%75.3–87.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21%17.7–24.6 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%31.2–42.7 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.4%25–34.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.9%22.5–31.8 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.6%18.4–25.3 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.8%12.5–17.1 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%11.6–15.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.4%20.3–29.1 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39%33.9–44.1 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%16.8–22.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.6%15.3–20.1 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7–9.2 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.4–12.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.3–7.2 | 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 East Spencer
Is East Spencer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Spencer is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Spencer?
CDC estimates 44.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.2% and 52.6%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Spencer?
Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury, 2.7 miles in a straight line from East Spencer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Spencer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–15.9%), 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 East Spencer more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in East Spencer.
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.