Mars Hill High School · Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States · CC0On CDC estimates, Mars Hill is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Mars Hill differs from North Carolina on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mars Hill. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mars Hill
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Mars Hill
Mars Hill runs below North Carolina on seven chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.4% vs 12%), stroke (2.5% vs 3.6%) and heart disease (4.9% vs 6.6%). Conditions ↓
Mars Hill is an active town
Only 18.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Few Mars Hill adults smoke
9.3% of adults smoke cigarettes, 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 Mars Hill’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Mars Hill’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mars Hill is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 32%).
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). Mars Hill’s median household income is $81,429; among the 10,689 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Mars Hill adults…
Mars Hill runs below NC on 8 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Mars Hill
1 community health center in Mars Hill, 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 Mars Hill; ≈ 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 Mars Hill adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Mars Hill adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Mars Hill 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.
6.9% of Mars Hill adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Mars Hill and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Hill | A | 28.9% | 7.4% | 9.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mars Hill adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mars Hill
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mars Hill is better than North Carolina on 18 and worse on 2; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Mars Hill’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mars Hill | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.1%11.7–16.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.3%8.8–11.9 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%15.6–20.8 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.9%21.9–36.6 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.4%6.3–8.7 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.5%24.1–31.2 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.5%25.9–33.4 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.1%18.6–23.8 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.5–8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.5–6.2 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.2–2.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.5–13.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.3%7.5–11.3 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.2%14.4–22.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.1–20.9 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.9%23.7–36.8 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.3–10.2 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%73.6–81.3 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.8%65.2–72.3 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%79.7–85.4 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.3%68.9–73.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.5%67.7–77 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%72–85.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.8%22.8–31.2 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30.2–41.2 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.6%17.3–24.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.4%8.2–13.2 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8%6.6–9.9 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%4.2–6 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6–8.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.9%5.5–8.9 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2%25.4–35.4 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.5–11.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.2–18.8 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.3–8.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.2–2.9 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Mars Hill
Is Mars Hill a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mars Hill is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mars Hill?
CDC estimates 28.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.9% and 36.6%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mars Hill?
Greeneville Community Hospital in Greeneville, 27.5 miles in a straight line from Mars Hill’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mars Hill have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.2%), 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 Mars Hill more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mars Hill.
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.