Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Northwest is healthier than 56%
Northwest differs from North Carolina on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Northwest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Northwest
Making ends meet is harder in Northwest
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (22.7%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (12.1% vs 8.1%) and housing insecurity (17.6% vs 12.2%) are higher too. 19.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Northwest
1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.2%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (17.3%), vs 12% across North Carolina. High blood pressure is also above the state: 45.2%, vs 36.8% across North Carolina. In all, Northwest runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Northwest
55.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 24% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Northwest is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Northwest is healthier than 28%. Against the 6,838 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 56%. Health Grade ↓
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 Northwest’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Northwest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northwest is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 58% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Northwest’s median household income is $53,214; among the 6,838 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Northwest compares well: binge drinking, 11.6% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.4% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 89.5% (U.S. 87.1%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.7% of Northwest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Northwest adults…
Northwest runs above NC on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Northwest is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Northwest as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Northwest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Northwest
No hospital or community health center in Northwest 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 Northwest; ≈ 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.
How Northwest adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Northwest runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Northwest 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.
Northwest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | C | 40.5% | 17.3% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Sandy Creek | — | — | — | — |
Sandy Creek: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Northwest adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Northwest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Northwest is better than North Carolina on 4 and worse on 15; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Northwest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Northwest | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24%20.8–27.3 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.4–16.1 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.6–18.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.5%33.2–48.3 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.3%15–19.7 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.2%40.8–49.6 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.2–42.1 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32%28.4–35.6 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.6–13.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.2%6.4–8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.2%7.1–9.4 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24%20.3–28 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%13–17.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29%24.3–33.8 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.6%9.3–14.1 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.5%35.9–49.1 | 34.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.1%9.1–13.2 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.4%81.4–87.2 | 80% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.5%51.6–59.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%87.9–90.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.3%79.7–84.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%62.4–72.1 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%73.3–85.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%17.9–24.7 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%29.3–39.7 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27%23–31.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.7%19.1–26.4 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.6%15–20.3 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.4–13.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%9.8–13 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.7%16.5–23.1 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.5%32–41.2 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%16.8–22.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.8–17.9 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.9–11.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 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 Northwest
Is Northwest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northwest is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Northwest?
CDC estimates 40.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.2% and 48.3%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Northwest?
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, 16.6 miles in a straight line from Northwest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Northwest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–13.2%), 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 Northwest 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 Northwest.
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.