On CDC estimates, Neuse Forest is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Neuse Forest differs from North Carolina on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Neuse Forest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Neuse Forest
Neuse Forest keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (67.4% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (90.3% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Neuse Forest
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Fewer Neuse Forest adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 11 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 Neuse Forest’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A+.
What’s behind Neuse Forest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Neuse Forest is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #82 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 81% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 65%.
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). Neuse Forest’s median household income is $84,500; among the 10,440 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$106K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Neuse Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Neuse Forest adults…
Neuse Forest runs above NC on 1 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.
7% of Neuse Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Neuse Forest
No hospital or community health center in Neuse Forest 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 Neuse Forest; ≈ 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.
2.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Neuse Forest adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Neuse Forest 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.
Neuse Forest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuse Forest | A− | 34.1% | 10.9% | 11.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Neuse Forest adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Neuse Forest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Neuse Forest is better than North Carolina on 9 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Neuse Forest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Neuse Forest | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.9%13.2–18.9 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%10.3–14.1 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13–17.3 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%26.9–42.3 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.9%9.2–12.8 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.6%33.3–42.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.2%32.9–42 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%26.2–33.6 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%8.9–11.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.7%5.5–8 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.3–14.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%9.5–14.7 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.6%16.4–25.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.5–18.5 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.1%25.1–37.7 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%5.7–9.1 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.3–84.7 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.4%63.7–70.9 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.3%88.6–91.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%75.8–81.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.8%67.9–77.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%68.1–83 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.6–28.4 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%25.9–36.5 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%16.4–23.6 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.4%7.5–11.5 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%6.7–9.9 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.5–6.5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%4.8–6.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%5.4–8.6 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6%25–34.6 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%10.7–15.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%10.8–14.9 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%6.8–9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.5–4.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%5.7–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 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 Neuse Forest
Is Neuse Forest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Neuse Forest is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health, #82 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Neuse Forest?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 42.3%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Neuse Forest?
Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern, 12.3 miles in a straight line from Neuse Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Neuse Forest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–9.1%), 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 Neuse Forest 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 Neuse Forest.
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.