Oak Ridge Military Academy Historic District · Photo: Ceh2624 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Oak Ridge is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oak Ridge
Against towns with similar incomes, Oak Ridge’s lead shrinks
Oak Ridge is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, but 68% of the 2,425 towns with similar household incomes ($117K–$194K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Oak Ridge is an active town
Only 16.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge runs below North Carolina on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.9% vs 7.1%), stroke (2.6% vs 3.6%) and diabetes (9.4% vs 12%). A young population is part of it: only 13% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Oak Ridge adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 14 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 Oak Ridge’s likely range.
What’s behind Oak Ridge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oak Ridge is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns, #22 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 96% of towns); the weakest is obesity, 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). Oak Ridge’s median household income is $155,385; among the 2,425 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($117K–$194K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Oak Ridge adults…
Oak Ridge runs below NC on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Oak Ridge residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.6% of Oak Ridge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Oak Ridge
No hospital or community health center in Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oak Ridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Oak Ridge adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Oak Ridge does better than North Carolina.
3 in 10 Oak Ridge 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.
Oak Ridge and the towns around it
Oak Ridge has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Ridge | A | 32.2% | 9.4% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| Stokesdale | A− | 34.6% | 10% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Summerfield | A | 32.5% | 9.7% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Greensboro | B− | 39.1% | 12.2% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oak Ridge adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oak Ridge
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oak Ridge is better than North Carolina on 18 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Oak Ridge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oak Ridge | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.2%10.5–14.2 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.8–15.3 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.2%26.4–38.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.1–10.8 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.9%28.9–36.9 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%32.6–41 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.3%23.1–29.5 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.8%5.4–8.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.6%7.9–11.4 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.3%13.4–19.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13–19 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.9%25.2–34.8 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.6%4.6–6.7 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%77.8–84.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.1%70.9–77 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.3%90–92.6 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%73.9–80.8 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%62–71.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.8%77–87.7 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.3–27.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%24.1–33.1 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.9%16–22.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7%5.7–8.5 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.6%5.5–7.8 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.6–5 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%3.8–5.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.6%3.7–5.7 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.9%21.5–28.7 | 32% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.6%8.2–11.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.6%9.2–12 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.3–6.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.6–6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.2–2.8 | 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 Oak Ridge
Is Oak Ridge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oak Ridge is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health, #22 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oak Ridge?
CDC estimates 32.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.4% and 38.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oak Ridge?
High Point Regional Health System in High Point, 12.7 miles in a straight line from Oak Ridge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oak Ridge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–6.7%), 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 Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge.
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.