Zion Episcopal Church · Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, River Road is healthier than 72%
River Road differs from North Carolina on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for River Road. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in River Road
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in River Road
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, River Road runs above North Carolina on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 24 miles from River Road
The closest emergency room is Ecu Health Medical Center in Greenville, 24.2 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Metropolitan Community Health Services is closer (4.6 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in River Road, and more people treating it
43.6% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 80.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in River Road has no health insurance
13.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.4% across North Carolina. Checkups ↓
River Road is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, River Road is healthier than 29%. Against the 4,457 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 72%. 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 River Road’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind River Road’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Road is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #204 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 61% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 13%).
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 Road’s median household income is $46,352; among the 4,457 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 72%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where River Road compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 River Road adults…
River Road runs above NC on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
River Road is an older town: 26% 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 Road as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near River Road
No hospital or community health center in River Road 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 Road; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of River Road 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.
How River Road adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 River Road 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.
16.3% of River Road adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
River Road and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Road | C | 37.2% | 15.4% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| Washington Park | — | — | — | — |
Washington Park: 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 River Road adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for River Road
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, River Road is better than North Carolina on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside River Road’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | River Road | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.9%20–28.2 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.2–18.1 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.2–18.7 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.2%29.5–45.7 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.2–17.9 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.6%39.2–48.4 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.8–45.2 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33%29.5–37 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%7.8–10.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.2–12.2 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.7%18.8–26.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4%13.2–19.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%23.4–34.7 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%10.8–16.3 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5%27.2–40 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.6%10.9–16.6 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.4%78.1–84.7 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.5%55.4–63.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.2%86.4–90 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.4%77.7–83.2 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.8%63.7–73.1 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%66.1–80.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.5–28.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27–37.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%18.6–26.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%15.5–22.8 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%11.5–16.3 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8–10.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.2–11.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.3%13.1–19.9 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.4%32.3–43.1 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.2%16–22.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%13.9–19.1 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.2–10.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6–8.2 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.5–11.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.7–6.5 | 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 River Road
Is River Road a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Road is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #204 of 289 in North Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in River Road?
CDC estimates 37.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.5% and 45.7%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to River Road?
Ecu Health Medical Center in Greenville, 24.2 miles in a straight line from River Road’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in River Road have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–16.6%), 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 Road 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 River Road.
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.