On CDC estimates, Northlakes is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Northlakes differs from North Carolina on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Northlakes. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Northlakes
Cancer runs high in Northlakes
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.7%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Northlakes keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (72.2% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (91% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Northlakes is an active town
Only 18.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% 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 Northlakes’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Northlakes’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northlakes is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 90% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 75%.
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). Northlakes’ median household income is $101,250; among the 8,402 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($76K–$127K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Northlakes adults…
Northlakes runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Northlakes adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
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 Northlakes
No hospital or community health center in Northlakes 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 Northlakes; ≈ 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).
How Northlakes adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Northlakes does better than North Carolina.
3 in 10 Northlakes 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.
5.1% of Northlakes adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Northlakes and the towns around it
Northlakes has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northlakes | A | 28.5% | 10.4% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Hickory | B− | 38% | 12.5% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Granite Falls | B | 31.3% | 11.1% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Northlakes adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Northlakes
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Northlakes is better than North Carolina on 13 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Northlakes’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Northlakes | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.2%11.2–17.5 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%9.4–13.4 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%11.7–16.1 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.5%21.8–36 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.4%8.6–12.2 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.2%31.8–40.7 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%34.4–43.7 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.7%25.1–32.5 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.6–11.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.5–11.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.6–7.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%4.9–7.7 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.7–3.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.6–12.9 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.6%8–13.7 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.4%14.1–23.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%12.9–18.9 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.9%23.1–35.4 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%4.5–8.1 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%78.7–84.9 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.2%69–75.3 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91%89.4–92.5 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76–82.1 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.5%70–78.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.2%74.5–86.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%19.8–27.5 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28%23.2–33.3 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.6%15.1–22.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%5.5–9.4 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.3%4.9–7.7 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.1%3.3–5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%3.7–5.5 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.1%3.7–6.8 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.3%21.5–31.4 | 32% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.5%9.2–14.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.3%9.2–13.5 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%2.8–4.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%4.8–7.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.3–3.4 | 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 Northlakes
Is Northlakes a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northlakes is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Northlakes?
CDC estimates 28.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.8% and 36%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Northlakes?
Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Northlakes’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Northlakes have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–8.1%), 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 Northlakes 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 Northlakes.
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.