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Bernard Franklin HouseBernard Franklin House · Photo: Bonitalh · CC BY-SA 4.0
–Not graded
Health in Lowgap · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Lowgap residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Lowgap, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lowgap. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Lowgap

COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Lowgap

1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Cancer is also above the state: 10.2%, vs 7.9% across North Carolina. In all, Lowgap runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in Lowgap

58.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 18.1% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓

Smoking is more common in Lowgap

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (18.1%), vs 13.5% 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 Lowgap’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Lowgap adults…

Lowgap runs above NC on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Lowgap adults have COPD
North Carolina: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 8.6–13%
Better than NCWorseAbout the sameNorth Carolina
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Lowgap adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.

79%Yearly checkupNC 80%
58%Dentist visitNC 64%
85%Cholesterol checkNC 88%
63%Colon screeningNC 66%
78%MammogramNC 79%
78%Taking BP medsNC 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Lowgap 12.2% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina

Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.

Get no exercise 29%NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 32%NC 34.2%
Binge drink 14.7%NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettes 18.1%NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Lowgap, betterLowgap, worseAbout the sameNorth Carolina
Where Lowgap gets moving

0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Lowgap

No hospital or community health center in Lowgap itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERTwin County Regional HospitalGalax · 10.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyNorthern Regional Hospital★★★★★ · 14.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careTri-Area Community HealthCana · 11.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
10.6 mi
Twin County Regional Hospital
Galax · ★★★★★
ER
11.8 mi
Tri-Area Community Health
3 sites · nearest in Cana
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
13.6 mi
Alleghany Memorial Hospital
Sparta · not rated
ERRural critical access
14.7 mi
Northern Regional Hospital
Mount Airy · ★★★★★
ER
14.7 mi
High Country Community Health
2 sites · nearest in Mount Airy
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
18.2 mi
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital
Elkin · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Lowgap itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Lowgap itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Lowgap itself

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 Lowgap; ≈ 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).

Mind & connection

How Lowgap adults are doing

About the same as North Carolina on each measure.

1 in 3Lowgap adults feel lonely
32.8% · NC 32.5% · About the same as NC
1 in 4Lowgap adults lack social or emotional support
22.5% · NC 22.5% · About the same as NC
1 in 4Lowgap adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.2% · NC 24.2% · About the same as NC
1 in 6Lowgap adults are in frequent mental distress
17.9% · NC 16.5% · About the same as NC
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Lowgap adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Lowgap adults worry about having enough food
15.1% · NC 15.2%
About the same as NC
1 in 10
Lowgap adults worry about keeping their housing
10.5% · NC 12.2%
About the same as NC
1 in 14
Lowgap adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.9% · NC 8.1%
About the same as NC
1 in 13
Lowgap adults lack reliable transportation
8% · NC 8.4%
About the same as NC

12.8% of Lowgap adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.

Around town

Lowgap and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

40%

of Lowgap adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs18.8%
Thinking or memory17.6%
Hearing10.2%
Errands alone10.3%
Vision6.2%
Dressing or bathing4.8%
North Carolina

Questions about health in Lowgap

Why doesn’t Lowgap have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Lowgap.

What hospital is closest to Lowgap?

Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Lowgap’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lowgap.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.