Eagle Nest · Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Richlands is healthier than 89%
Richlands differs from North Carolina on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Richlands. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Richlands
Richlands is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Richlands is healthier than 68%. Against the 9,967 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Richlands is short on primary care and mental health care
Richlands’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Heart disease and diabetes are less common in Richlands
Richlands runs below North Carolina on four chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (5.3% vs 6.6%), diabetes (9.7% vs 12%) and cancer (6.4% vs 7.9%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Richlands’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Richlands’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Richlands is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 84% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 25%).
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). Richlands’ median household income is $65,163; among the 9,967 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Care in and near Richlands
No hospital or community health center in Richlands 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 Richlands; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Richlands adults…
Richlands runs below NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Richlands residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
2.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Richlands adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Richlands adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Richlands 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.
12% of Richlands adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Richlands and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richlands | B+ | 34.9% | 9.7% | 14% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Richlands adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Richlands
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Richlands is better than North Carolina on 7 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Richlands’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Richlands | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.6%15.1–20.2 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.4–13.7 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.3–20.9 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.9%28.4–42 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.4–11.2 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32%28.4–35.9 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.2%26.5–34.2 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.2%20.5–26.1 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.5 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.4–7.2 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.7%12.8–19 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.8–16.5 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%17.8–25.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.2–19.1 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%33.4–45.8 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.2–11.7 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.7–82.4 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.4%58.7–66.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.8–87.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.8%68.8–74.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.4–71 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%69.8–83.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25%21.5–28.9 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.7%29.3–40.3 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%19.4–26.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%12.5–17.4 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%10.8–14.7 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.1–9.7 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%9.9–14.2 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.6%27.4–35.8 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%10.5–14.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14.2–18.4 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.2–9.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 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 Richlands
Is Richlands a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Richlands is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ 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 Richlands?
CDC estimates 34.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.4% and 42%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Richlands?
Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, 13.0 miles in a straight line from Richlands’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Richlands have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.7%), 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 Richlands 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 Richlands.
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.