Photo: Westla · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Gamewell is healthier than 58%
Gamewell trails North Carolina on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gamewell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gamewell
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Gamewell
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.1%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.2%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, Gamewell runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Gamewell
56.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 18.7% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Gamewell
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19%), vs 13.5% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Gamewell is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Gamewell is healthier than 21%. Against the 4,515 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 58%. 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 Gamewell’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Gamewell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gamewell is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #231 of 289 in North Carolina. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 62% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Gamewell’s median household income is $46,556; among the 4,515 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Gamewell adults…
Gamewell runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Gamewell residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gamewell 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Gamewell
No hospital or community health center in Gamewell 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 Gamewell; ≈ 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 Gamewell adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Gamewell 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.
15.7% of Gamewell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Gamewell 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gamewell adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gamewell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gamewell is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Gamewell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gamewell | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.7%21.5–28.2 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.5–18.7 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.5–21 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.5%26.6–42.7 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.3–16.3 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.5%37.1–46 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%35.1–44.2 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29–36.4 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–13 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.8–10.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.5–22.4 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19%16.3–22.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%24.8–34.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.6–17.2 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%26.3–39.6 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%10–14.3 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80%76.5–83.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.4%52.6–60.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.2–87.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.8–81.5 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.3%58–68.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%67.7–82.5 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%23.3–31.5 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.4–38 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.3–26.8 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%15–20.7 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.6–14.5 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.4–10 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.1–10.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%13.3–18.3 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.6%33.9–43.5 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.2%16.8–22 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16.2–20.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.2%9–11.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.8–12.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 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 Gamewell
Is Gamewell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gamewell is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #231 of 289 in North Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gamewell?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.6% and 42.7%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gamewell?
Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Gamewell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gamewell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10–14.3%), 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 Gamewell 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 Gamewell.
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.