Mary's Grove · Photo: Bigdaverhuberg · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Lenoir is healthier than 56%
Lenoir trails North Carolina on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lenoir. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lenoir
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Lenoir
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.1%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.5%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Lenoir runs above North Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Lenoir
55.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 19.5% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Lenoir
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.8%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (10.1% vs 8.1%) and no reliable transportation (10.3% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 18% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Lenoir is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lenoir is healthier than 24%. Against the 5,764 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 56%. 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 Lenoir’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Lenoir’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lenoir is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #219 of 289 in North Carolina. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 58% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Lenoir’s median household income is $49,910; among the 5,764 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Lenoir adults…
Lenoir runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lenoir adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18% of Lenoir adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Lenoir
1 hospital in Lenoir, 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 Lenoir; ≈ 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.
11 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How Lenoir adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Lenoir 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.
Lenoir and the towns around it
Lenoir’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir | C− | 35.1% | 14.2% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| Hudson | C+ | 32.8% | 12.5% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| Cajah's Mountain | C− | 33.9% | 14.9% | 18.4% | CDC place |
| Gamewell | C− | 34.5% | 14.2% | 19% | CDC place |
| Sawmills | C | 34.3% | 13.3% | 18.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lenoir adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lenoir
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lenoir is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Lenoir’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lenoir | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%21.7–27.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.9–17.9 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.2–20.5 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.1%27.3–43.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.4–16.3 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%36.3–45.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%33.9–42.9 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.4–34.4 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.5%16.3–23 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15.4–20.6 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%24.9–34.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14%11.5–17 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%27.2–40.5 | 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 | 80%76.6–83.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.9%52.1–59.6 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.2–87.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.3–80.8 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%60.7–70.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.2–82.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.2%22.4–30.2 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.5%27.6–37.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.6–26.7 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.8%17.2–22.7 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.4–16.4 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9.2–11.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18%15.6–20.6 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%33–42.5 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%16.3–21.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.9–20.1 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.3–10.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.6–8 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.7–12.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–6.1 | 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 Lenoir
Is Lenoir a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lenoir is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #219 of 289 in North Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lenoir?
CDC estimates 35.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 43.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lenoir?
Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Lenoir’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lenoir 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 Lenoir 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 Lenoir.
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.