Photo: Beckycafferylepage · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Monroe is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns
Monroe differs from North Carolina on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Monroe. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Monroe
Every town around Monroe scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Monroe’s C, from Unionville (B+) to Wesley Chapel (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Monroe
22.4% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Housing insecurity (17.5% vs 12.2%) and utility shut-off threats (11.1% vs 8.1%) are higher too. 18% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 6 working-age adults in Monroe has no health insurance
17.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.4% across North Carolina. Checkups ↓
Monroe has a top-rated hospital
Atrium Health Union 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 Monroe’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Monroe’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Monroe is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #204 of 289 in North Carolina. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 46% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Monroe’s median household income is $72,540; among the 10,698 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$91K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Monroe compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
Monroe and the towns around it
Monroe’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | C | 38.7% | 13.4% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| Unionville | B+ | 34.1% | 10.9% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Indian Trail | A− | 33.8% | 9.5% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Wesley Chapel | A | 31.9% | 9.5% | 10.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18% of Monroe adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Keeping up with care
Share of Monroe adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Monroe
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Monroe, 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 Monroe; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Monroe adults…
Monroe runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Monroe adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Monroe 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Monroe adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Monroe
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Monroe is better than North Carolina on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Monroe’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Monroe | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.9–26.4 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.7–16.1 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.8–20.1 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.7%31.5–46.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.6–15.3 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%33.2–41.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.8%31.6–40.2 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%22.9–29 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.6–20.9 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%13.3–17.6 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.7%25.2–34.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.4–17 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%29.4–41.4 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.5%15.3–19.8 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75.1–82.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.1%54.3–61.5 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.7–87.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72.4–78.2 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.9%57.6–67.5 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%69.1–82.7 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.5–27.9 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%28.8–39 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21.3–28.7 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.4%19.7–25.3 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.5%15.3–19.8 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.4%10.1–12.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18%15.8–20.4 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.3%30.9–39.5 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16%14.1–17.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.4–19.4 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7%6.4–7.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.7–10.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.5–5.4 | 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 Monroe
Is Monroe a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Monroe is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #204 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Monroe?
CDC estimates 38.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 46.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Monroe?
Atrium Health Union in Monroe, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Monroe’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Monroe have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.3–19.8%), 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 Monroe 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 Monroe.
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.