Photo: Bz3rk · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Morehead City is healthier than 89%
Morehead City differs from North Carolina on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Morehead City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Morehead City
Morehead City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Morehead City is healthier than 61%. Against the 7,799 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Morehead City
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.9%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, Morehead City runs above North Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Morehead City adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and utility bills all run below North Carolina. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Morehead City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Morehead City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morehead City is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #135 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 72% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Morehead City’s median household income is $56,233; among the 7,799 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Morehead City adults…
Morehead City runs above NC on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.9% of Morehead City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Morehead City
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Morehead City, 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 Morehead City; ≈ 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.
4.2 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Morehead City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Morehead City adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Morehead City 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.
Morehead City and the towns around it
Morehead City’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead City | B | 34.9% | 12.6% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Brandywine Bay | A | 29.8% | 12.5% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Beaufort | B | 35.6% | 13.4% | 13.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Morehead City adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Morehead City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Morehead City is better than North Carolina on 6 and worse on 5; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Morehead City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Morehead City | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.3%16.7–21.9 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12–15.4 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.8–17.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.9%27.4–43.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.8–14.5 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.6%35.2–44.2 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%34.4–43.6 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%27.7–35.2 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.5–11.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7–8.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.4–9.5 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.3%10.8–16.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11.6–15.6 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%19.6–27.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.8–17.5 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%26.3–38.9 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%8.1–11 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.1–84.5 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.9%62.3–69.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.8%87.3–90.3 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.1–82.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%65.8–75.4 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.2%73.2–86.1 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21–28.8 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.1%25.1–35.1 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.8%16.5–23.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%11–15 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.9%8.5–11.4 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9%9.3–12.7 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.1%28.9–37.6 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%13.9–18.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.7–16.1 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Morehead City
Is Morehead City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Morehead City is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #135 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 Morehead City?
CDC estimates 34.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.4% and 43.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Morehead City?
Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Morehead City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Morehead City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–11%), 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 Morehead City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Morehead City.
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.