On CDC estimates, Montreat is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Montreat differs from North Carolina on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Montreat. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Montreat
Diabetes and obesity are less common in Montreat
Montreat runs below North Carolina on seven chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.9% vs 12%), obesity (23.5% vs 35.1%) and COPD (5.4% vs 7.1%). A young population is part of it: only 2% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%). Conditions ↓
Montreat is an active town
Only 16.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. The town has 14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Few Montreat adults smoke
7.2% 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 Montreat’s likely range.
What’s behind Montreat’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montreat is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 63%.
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). Montreat’s median household income is $115,568; among the 6,381 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($87K–$144K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Montreat adults…
Montreat 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.
14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Montreat
No hospital or community health center in Montreat itself. These are the nearest.
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 Montreat; ≈ 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 Montreat adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Montreat adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Montreat 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.
5.6% of Montreat adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Montreat and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreat | A | 23.5% | 7.9% | 7.2% | CDC place |
| Black Mountain | A | 29% | 11.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Montreat adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Montreat
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Montreat is better than North Carolina on 18 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Montreat’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Montreat | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%10.5–17.1 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.1–11.7 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%13.2–19.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.5%18.3–29.1 | 35.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.9%6.7–9.1 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.3%25.2–31.4 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30%26.5–33.4 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.5%19.2–23.8 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%8.7–11.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.4%4.3–6.6 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.6%6.9–10.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.2%5.3–9.3 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.3%12.4–20.6 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14–20 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 23.2%19.1–27.6 | 34.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%5.2–11.9 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.1–80.6 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.8%74.1–79.4 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.4%77.7–86.2 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.6%73.4–77.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 80.3%76.6–83.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.2%76.5–87.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21–28.5 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.7%29–40.6 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%15.8–24.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.1%6.1–13.1 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.4%4.6–8.7 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.8%2.9–4.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.5%4.7–8.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.6%3.7–8.1 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.8%24.4–36.1 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%8.5–12.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%11.2–19.3 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.1–4.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%5.4–9.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%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 Montreat
Is Montreat a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montreat is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Montreat?
CDC estimates 23.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.3% and 29.1%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Montreat?
The Mcdowell Hospital in Marion, 15.3 miles in a straight line from Montreat’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Montreat have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–11.9%), 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 Montreat more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Montreat.
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.