Alston House · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Gulf residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Gulf, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gulf. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gulf
Cancer and arthritis run high in Gulf
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.8%), vs 26.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Fewer Gulf adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Gulf’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Gulf adults…
Gulf runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.6% of Gulf adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Gulf
No hospital or community health center in Gulf 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 Gulf; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
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 Gulf adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Gulf adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Gulf does better than North Carolina.
1 in 4 Gulf 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.
Gulf and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gulf adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Gulf
Why doesn’t Gulf have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Gulf.
What hospital is closest to Gulf?
Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, 8.0 miles in a straight line from Gulf’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Gulf?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Sanford Community Health Center in Sanford, 8.3 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gulf.
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.