CSS NEUSE (Ironclad Gunboat) · Photo: Katyrw · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Kinston is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Kinston differs from North Carolina on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kinston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kinston
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Kinston
1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (7.2%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (21.4%), vs 12% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 12.4%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, Kinston runs above North Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Kinston adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.7%), vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kinston
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (34.4%), more than twice the North Carolina rate. Utility shut-off threats (19.3% vs 8.1%) and no reliable transportation (17.5% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 35.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Kinston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Kinston is healthier than 3%. Against the 1,603 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 20%. Health Grade ↓
Kinston has a top-rated hospital
UNC Lenoir Health Care is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Kinston’s likely range.
What’s behind Kinston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kinston is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #284 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 16% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Kinston’s median household income is $36,878; among the 1,603 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Kinston compares well: binge drinking, 9.8% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.3% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Kinston adults…
Kinston runs above NC on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
35.4% of Kinston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Kinston
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Kinston, 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 Kinston; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Kinston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Kinston adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Kinston runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Kinston 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.
Kinston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinston | D− | 46.1% | 21.4% | 21.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kinston adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kinston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kinston is better than North Carolina on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Kinston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kinston | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.4%29.9–36.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.2–20.4 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17–21.5 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.1%37.6–54.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 21.4%19–24.1 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 52.3%47.9–56.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.5%34.9–44.2 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.3%31.6–39.1 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.2%11.7–15 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.4%11.1–13.9 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.2%6.6–7.7 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.7%21.7–30 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.4%18.8–24.3 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.7%33.5–44.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 9.8%7.9–12.1 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3%36.2–50.6 | 34.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.7%12.7–16.8 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.3%81.4–87.1 | 80% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.6%46.8–54.5 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.3–88.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.1%79.6–84.3 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.9%60.6–70.8 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%72.7–85.4 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.1–26.4 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.8%30.6–41.4 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%24.8–32.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.4%30.9–37.8 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.8%22.1–27.8 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.3%17.3–21.6 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.5%15.7–19.5 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 35.4%32.2–38.7 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4%40.6–50.4 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.6%23.9–29.6 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%18.2–22.7 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–10.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.7%10.7–12.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15%13.5–16.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 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 Kinston
Is Kinston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kinston is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #284 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kinston?
CDC estimates 46.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.6% and 54.8%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kinston?
UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Kinston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kinston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.7–16.8%), 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 Kinston 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 Kinston.
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.