North Carolina Granite Corporation Quarry Complex · Photo: Nmg27510 · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Flat Rock is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Flat Rock trails North Carolina on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Flat Rock. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Flat Rock
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Flat Rock
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.8%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Flat Rock runs above North Carolina on 11 of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Flat Rock
51.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 34.9% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
More Flat Rock adults get no exercise
36% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% 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 Flat Rock’s likely range.
What’s behind Flat Rock’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Flat Rock is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Flat Rock’s estimates fall in the lowest 9% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 19.4% of adults, against 12.7% across North Carolina and 13% nationally.
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). Flat Rock’s median household income is $42,018; among the 3,050 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 11%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Flat Rock adults…
Flat Rock runs above NC on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Flat Rock 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 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Flat Rock
No hospital or community health center in Flat Rock 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 Flat Rock; ≈ 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 Flat Rock adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Flat Rock runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Flat Rock 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.
23.7% of Flat Rock adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Flat Rock and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rock | D− | 44.7% | 16.9% | 22.7% | CDC place |
| Mount Airy | D | 42% | 16.4% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Flat Rock adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Flat Rock
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Flat Rock is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 25; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Flat Rock’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Flat Rock | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.3%26.5–35.8 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%16.6–22 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.7–22.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.7%36.4–53 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.9%14.5–19.3 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.7%40.1–49.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.7%37.2–46.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.7%32–39.4 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11–14.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.4–10.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14%11.7–16.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5–6.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 34.9%29.5–40.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.7%18.8–26.5 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36%30.2–41.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10–15.1 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%27.6–41.3 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.8%12.6–19.7 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%76.4–83.3 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.9%47.9–55.6 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%82.2–87.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%76.7–82.4 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59%53.1–64.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%61.2–78.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.8%24.9–33.2 | 24.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34%28.8–39.3 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%20.3–28 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.1%20.9–29.3 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.6%14–19.3 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10–13.5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.5%10.7–14.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.7%19.5–27.8 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.3%40.5–51.7 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.5%20.8–28.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.5%18.4–24.5 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.4%9.9–12.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.4%8.1–10.8 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14%11.9–16 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.5%6.3–8.7 | 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 Flat Rock
Is Flat Rock a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Flat Rock is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 11%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Flat Rock?
CDC estimates 44.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.4% and 53%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Flat Rock?
Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Flat Rock’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Flat Rock have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.6–19.7%), 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 Flat Rock more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Flat Rock.
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.