Photo: GastoniaHappening Jim Bob Willy · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Gastonia is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns
Gastonia trails North Carolina on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gastonia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gastonia
Making ends meet is harder in Gastonia
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.7%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (11.3% vs 8.1%) and housing insecurity (16.5% vs 12.2%) are higher too. 18.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Gastonia
Grades next door run from Cramerton (A−) to Bessemer City (D). Gastonia is a C+. Around town ↓
Gastonia is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Gastonia is healthier than 36%. Against the 9,742 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 51%. 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 Gastonia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Gastonia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gastonia is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #194 of 289 in North Carolina. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 53% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 29%).
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). Gastonia’s median household income is $64,059; among the 9,742 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.4% of Gastonia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Gastonia and the towns around it
Gastonia’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 8 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastonia | C+ | 37.8% | 13.5% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Springdale | B | 34.2% | 12.1% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Bessemer City | D | 39.3% | 14.8% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Kings Mountain | D | 40.6% | 14.8% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Lowell | C− | 37.8% | 13.3% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| Dallas | C+ | 37.6% | 11.9% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Cramerton | A− | 33.2% | 10.1% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Ranlo | B− | 36.5% | 11.1% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Gastonia adults…
Gastonia runs above NC on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gastonia
1 community health center in Gastonia, 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 Gastonia; ≈ 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.
25 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Gastonia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Gastonia adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Gastonia 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gastonia adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gastonia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gastonia is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Gastonia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gastonia | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%19.7–24.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.3–15.6 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.6–19.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.8%30.3–45.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.7–15.4 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.3–42.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%31.7–40.4 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25–31.6 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.8 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%7.2–8.9 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.3–20.6 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.5–17.7 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%23–31.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.4–17 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.7%32.5–45.4 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.5%10.9–14.2 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%76.7–83.5 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.2%55.6–62.9 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85.3–88.6 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.6–80.2 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%59.7–69.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%70.8–84.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%20.6–28.1 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%29–39.5 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%20.7–27.8 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.7%18.1–23.2 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.5%14.4–18.6 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.4%16.3–20.6 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.4%30.1–38.6 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.4%14.4–18.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.6%14.8–18.4 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.2–7.3 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.6–5.4 | 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 Gastonia
Is Gastonia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gastonia is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #194 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 51%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gastonia?
CDC estimates 37.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 45.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gastonia?
Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Gastonia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gastonia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–14.2%), 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 Gastonia 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 Gastonia.
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.