Roanoke Canal · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Roanoke Rapids is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns
Roanoke Rapids trails North Carolina on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Roanoke Rapids. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Roanoke Rapids
Making ends meet is harder in Roanoke Rapids
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.7%), vs 15.2% across North Carolina. Utility shut-off threats (11.5% vs 8.1%) and no reliable transportation (11.1% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 19.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Roanoke Rapids
1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. Diabetes is also above the state: 14.9%, vs 12% across North Carolina. In all, Roanoke Rapids runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Roanoke Rapids
57.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.6% across North Carolina. Among those 65 and older, 21.9% have lost all their teeth (North Carolina 13.9%). Checkups ↓
Roanoke Rapids is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Roanoke Rapids is healthier than 24%. Against the 7,016 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 47%. 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 Roanoke Rapids’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Roanoke Rapids’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Roanoke Rapids is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #220 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 37% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Roanoke Rapids’ median household income is $53,690; among the 7,016 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.9% of Roanoke Rapids adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Roanoke Rapids adults…
Roanoke Rapids runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Roanoke Rapids adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Roanoke Rapids
1 community health center in Roanoke Rapids, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Roanoke Rapids; ≈ 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.
7.2 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Roanoke Rapids adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Roanoke Rapids 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.
Roanoke Rapids and the towns around it
Roanoke Rapids has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke Rapids | C− | 38% | 14.9% | 16.9% | CDC place |
| South Rosemary | D− | 44.6% | 21% | 22% | CDC place |
| Weldon | D− | 47.6% | 25% | 23% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Roanoke Rapids adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Roanoke Rapids
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Roanoke Rapids is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Roanoke Rapids’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Roanoke Rapids | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.9–27.1 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.4–17.3 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.9–20.3 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%31.2–47.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.9%13.2–17.4 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.1%39.3–48.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%34.3–43.4 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.3%28.3–35.5 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.2–9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%8.4–10.8 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.9%18.4–25.7 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.6–19.7 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%25.4–35 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.2–16.6 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4%29.1–42.3 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.5%9.8–13.7 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.5–84.8 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.5%54–61.1 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.6–89 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.9%76.4–81.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.5%61.6–71.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.1%69.9–83.4 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.7–28.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%29.3–40.1 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25%21.4–29.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.7%19–24.8 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.1%14.1–18.5 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%10–13.1 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.9–12.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.9%17.5–22.7 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.6%32.4–41.8 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.6%16.4–21.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.4–19.7 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.5–9.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.7–8.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%9.7–12.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 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 Roanoke Rapids
Is Roanoke Rapids a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Roanoke Rapids is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #220 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Roanoke Rapids?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.2% and 47.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Roanoke Rapids?
Ecu Health North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, 4.2 miles in a straight line from Roanoke Rapids’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Roanoke Rapids have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–13.7%), 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 Roanoke Rapids 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 Roanoke Rapids.
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.