Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0Where Elk Park residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Elk Park, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elk Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elk Park
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Elk Park
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.6%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, Elk Park runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Elk Park
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.5%), 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 Elk Park’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Elk Park adults…
Elk Park runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
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.
Care in and near Elk Park
No hospital or community health center in Elk Park 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 Elk Park; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Elk Park adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Elk Park adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Elk Park 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.
13.5% of Elk Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Elk Park 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 Elk Park adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Elk Park
Why doesn’t Elk Park have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Elk Park.
What hospital is closest to Elk Park?
Charles A Cannon Jr Memorial Hospital in Linville, 9.5 miles in a straight line from Elk Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Elk Park?
3 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is High Country Community Health Avery Medical Site in Newland, 5.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elk Park.
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.