Photo: Brian Stansberry (photographer) · CC BY 4.0Where Ruth residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ruth, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ruth. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ruth
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Ruth
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.9%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.1%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Stroke is also above the state: 5.4%, vs 3.6% across North Carolina. In all, Ruth runs above North Carolina on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Ruth adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.8%), vs 23.8% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
Smoking is more common in Ruth
22.4% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 13.5% across North Carolina. Habits ↓
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 Ruth’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Ruth adults…
Ruth runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
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.
Care in and near Ruth
No hospital or community health center in Ruth 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 Ruth; ≈ 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 Ruth adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Ruth adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ruth runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Ruth 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.
24.2% of Ruth adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Ruth and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherfordton | C− | 39.2% | 15.4% | 18.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ruth adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ruth
Why doesn’t Ruth have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ruth.
What hospital is closest to Ruth?
Rutherford Regional Medical Center in Rutherfordton, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Ruth’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Ruth?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Rutherford Health Center in Spindale, 1.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ruth.
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. 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.