Photo: G Keith Hall · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Elkin is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns
Elkin differs from North Carolina on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elkin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elkin
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Elkin
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Cancer is also above the state: 10.7%, vs 7.9% across North Carolina. In all, Elkin runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Elkin, and more people treating it
41.4% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 80.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Elkin is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Elkin is healthier than 32%. Against the 9,125 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 49%. 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 Elkin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Elkin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elkin is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, #201 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 61% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Elkin’s median household income is $60,740; among the 9,125 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 49%, about where its income would put it.
Where Elkin compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.6% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Elkin adults…
Elkin runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Elkin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Elkin
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Elkin, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Elkin; ≈ 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.
8.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Elkin adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Elkin 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% of Elkin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Elkin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkin | C | 39.4% | 13.9% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Pleasant Hill | — | — | — | — | |
| Jonesville | C | 37% | 13.2% | 16.4% | CDC place |
Pleasant Hill: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elkin adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elkin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elkin is better than North Carolina on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Elkin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elkin | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.2%19.5–27.3 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13–17.6 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.4–18.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%31.7–47.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%11.9–16.1 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.4%36.9–45.7 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%36.1–45 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.5%29.9–37 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.6–11.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%7.7–10.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%8–12 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4–5.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.2%17.5–25 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%12.3–18.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%23.7–34.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.3–15.2 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.5%25.1–37.8 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.6%9.9–15.7 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.3–84.4 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.7%55.9–63.3 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.2–89.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%77.8–82.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%61.6–71.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%69.4–83.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22–29.6 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.4%26.6–36.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.5–24.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.7%12.5–19.2 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.3%9.2–13.5 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.2–8.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%6.9–9.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13%10.1–16 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.2%34.1–44.4 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.3%16.1–22.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%13.8–18.7 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.5%9–12 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%5.6–7.9 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.4–12 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.1–5.9 | 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 Elkin
Is Elkin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elkin is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #201 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 49%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elkin?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 47.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elkin?
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Elkin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elkin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–15.7%), 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 Elkin 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 Elkin.
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.