Photo: IraEskins · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Holden Beach residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Holden Beach, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Holden Beach. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Holden Beach
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Holden Beach
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (15.8%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (38%), vs 26.9% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.6%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Holden Beach runs above North Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 46% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Holden Beach keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (87.8% vs 80%) and dentist visits (77.2% vs 63.6%). Checkups ↓
Holden Beach is an active town
Only 16.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Holden Beach’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Holden Beach adults…
Holden Beach runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Holden Beach is an older town: 46% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Holden Beach as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Holden Beach 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.
0.9 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Holden Beach
No hospital or community health center in Holden Beach 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 Holden Beach; ≈ 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 Holden Beach adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Holden Beach does better than North Carolina.
1 in 4 Holden Beach 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.
3.1% of Holden Beach adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Holden Beach 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 Holden Beach adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Holden Beach
Why doesn’t Holden Beach have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Holden Beach.
What hospital is closest to Holden Beach?
Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Supply, 7.0 miles in a straight line from Holden Beach’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Holden Beach?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Commwell Health of Shallotte - Medical in Shallotte, 6.0 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Holden Beach.
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.