Where Forest Hills residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Forest Hills, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Forest Hills. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forest Hills
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Forest Hills
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, Forest Hills runs above North Carolina on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Forest Hills
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (28.8%), vs 24.2% across North Carolina. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.6%, vs 16.5% across North Carolina. Mind & connection ↓
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 Forest Hills’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Forest Hills adults…
Forest Hills runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Forest Hills is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Forest Hills as about how healthy they are.
How Forest Hills adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Forest Hills runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Forest Hills 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.
Care in and near Forest Hills
No hospital or community health center in Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest Hills adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16% of Forest Hills adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Forest Hills and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cullowhee | A− | 27.7% | 3.6% | 9.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Forest Hills adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Forest Hills
Why doesn’t Forest Hills have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Forest Hills.
What hospital is closest to Forest Hills?
Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, 6.1 miles in a straight line from Forest Hills’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Forest Hills?
5 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Mahec Health Center at Cullowhee in Cullowhee, 0.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Forest Hills.
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.