Borden Manufacturing Company · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Goldsboro is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Goldsboro differs from North Carolina on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Goldsboro. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Goldsboro
Making ends meet is harder in Goldsboro
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.6%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (15.3% vs 8.1%) and no reliable transportation (14.6% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 26.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Goldsboro
1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (17.4%), vs 12% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 10%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, Goldsboro runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Goldsboro
55% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 24.6% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Goldsboro is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Goldsboro is healthier than 11%. Against the 5,225 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 31%. 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 Goldsboro’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Goldsboro’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goldsboro is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #259 of 289 in North Carolina. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 26% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Goldsboro’s median household income is $48,540; among the 5,225 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Goldsboro compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7% (U.S. 7.9%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.6% (U.S. 76.5%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.7% of Goldsboro adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Goldsboro adults…
Goldsboro runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Goldsboro adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Goldsboro
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro; ≈ 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.
19 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
How Goldsboro adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Goldsboro runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Goldsboro 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.
Goldsboro and the towns around it
Goldsboro’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Goldsboro adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Goldsboro
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Goldsboro is better than North Carolina on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Goldsboro’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Goldsboro | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.3%24–30.7 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.8–17.8 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.3–21 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.5%33.8–51.3 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.4%15.1–19.7 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.8%41.1–50.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%31.5–41 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.1–34.4 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.8–14 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.9–11.1 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.2–6.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.6%20.7–28.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.9%15.4–20.5 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.3%27.2–37.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.5%10–15.4 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.7%31.2–44.4 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.3%11.4–15.3 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.4–85 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55%51.2–58.8 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.8–87.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.6%77.1–82 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.4%61.2–71.1 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%69.2–83 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.4–27.2 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%29.2–39.8 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%23.4–31.4 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.6%24.7–30.7 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.2%17.8–22.7 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.3%13.5–17.2 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.6%13–16.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.7%24–29.5 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.3%35.4–45.3 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.3%18.8–23.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.5–20.8 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.2–9.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.2%8.5–10.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.5%11.2–13.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 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 Goldsboro
Is Goldsboro a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Goldsboro is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #259 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Goldsboro?
CDC estimates 42.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 51.3%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Goldsboro?
UNC Health Care Wayne in Goldsboro, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Goldsboro’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Goldsboro have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.4–15.3%), 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 Goldsboro 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 Goldsboro.
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.