On CDC estimates, River Bend is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns
River Bend differs from North Carolina on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for River Bend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in River Bend
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in River Bend
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.2%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.4%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 10.4%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, River Bend runs above North Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 33% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in River Bend, and more people treating it
46.8% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 84.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
River Bend keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.8% vs 80%) and cholesterol checks (91.4% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
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 River Bend’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind River Bend’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Bend is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #164 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 85% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). River Bend’s median household income is $71,824; among the 10,658 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.
Where River Bend compares well: binge drinking, 11.7% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.8% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 91.4% (U.S. 87.1%).
Out of every 100 River Bend adults…
River Bend runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
River Bend is an older town: 33% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in River Bend as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of River Bend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near River Bend
No hospital or community health center in River Bend 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 River Bend; ≈ 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.
0.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How River Bend adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 River Bend 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.
9.8% of River Bend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
River Bend and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Bend | B− | 35.7% | 15% | 13.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of River Bend adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for River Bend
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, River Bend is better than North Carolina on 9 and worse on 9; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside River Bend’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | River Bend | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.3%17.5–25.5 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%12.8–17.7 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.6–16.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%28.5–43.9 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%12.7–17.5 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.8%42–51.8 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.8%38.2–47.9 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.6%34.3–43 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.4–12.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.2%11.9–14.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.4%8.9–12 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%8.3–12.8 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.4–6 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.4%12.3–18.8 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6%10.8–16.8 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.8%20.6–31.3 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%9.5–14.3 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6%23.7–35.9 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.3–10.7 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.8%81.9–87.6 | 80% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.6%60.8–68.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.4%89.9–92.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84.2%81.5–86.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.3%68.4–77.8 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%70.8–84.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%20.4–28 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.3%25.1–35.8 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.3%15.8–23.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%8.9–14.8 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%6.7–10.4 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%5–7.2 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.5%5.4–7.9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%7.4–12.7 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.4%32–43 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%16–23.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%11.7–16.3 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.7%10.1–13.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%4.9–7.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.5–11 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%3.9–5.7 | 4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 River Bend
Is River Bend a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Bend is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #164 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in River Bend?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 43.9%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to River Bend?
Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern, 5.6 miles in a straight line from River Bend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in River Bend have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.7%), 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 River Bend more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in River Bend.
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.