Photo: Brian Stansberry (photographer) · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Rutherford College is healthier than 85%
Rutherford College differs from North Carolina on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rutherford College. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rutherford College
Rutherford College is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rutherford College is healthier than 66%. Against the 10,283 towns with similar household incomes ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 85%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Rutherford College
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Arthritis is also above the state: 32.6%, vs 26.9% across North Carolina. In all, Rutherford College runs above North Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Rutherford College keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (68.3% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (89.2% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Rutherford College adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Rutherford College’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Rutherford College’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rutherford College is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 76% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Rutherford College’s median household income is $67,500; among the 10,283 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 85%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Rutherford College adults…
Rutherford College runs above NC on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rutherford College adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Rutherford College adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near Rutherford College
1 community health center in Rutherford College, 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 Rutherford College; ≈ 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.
1 mile of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Rutherford College adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Rutherford College 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.
Rutherford College and the towns around it
Rutherford College 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford College | B+ | 33.4% | 12.3% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Valdese | B− | 34.3% | 12.7% | 14.6% | CDC place |
| Connelly Springs | C | 35.8% | 13.9% | 16.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rutherford College adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rutherford College
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rutherford College is better than North Carolina on 9 and worse on 4; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Rutherford College’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rutherford College | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.3%15.8–21.2 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.6–15.2 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.5 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.4%26.1–41.1 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.6–14.2 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%35.1–43.7 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%34.4–43.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29.1–36.3 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.2–11.8 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%9.9–12.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.3–9.7 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.6–14.5 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11.2–16 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.2%20.1–28.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%11.5–17 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%24.5–37 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.6–10 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.8%78.5–84.6 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.3%64.9–71.7 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.6–90.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%77.6–82.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.4%67.7–76.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.7%72.6–85.5 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%21.7–29.4 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%25.5–35.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.8%16.3–23.3 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.7%8.7–12.9 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%6.6–9.6 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.5–6.3 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.1–7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%6.9–10.4 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%28.9–38 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%13.4–17.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.3–10.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7.1–9.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 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 Rutherford College
Is Rutherford College a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rutherford College is healthier than 66% 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 Rutherford College?
CDC estimates 33.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.1% and 41.1%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rutherford College?
Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals in Morganton, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Rutherford College’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rutherford College have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–10%), 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 Rutherford College 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 Rutherford College.
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.