Photo: DiscoA340 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Southport is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Southport differs from North Carolina on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Southport. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Southport
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Southport
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14.8%), about twice the North Carolina rate. 2 in 5 adults have arthritis (40.5%), vs 26.9% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.8%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Southport runs above North Carolina on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 48% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Southport, and more people treating it
45.3% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 86% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Southport keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (87.1% vs 80%) and dentist visits (69.8% vs 63.6%). 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 Southport’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Southport’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Southport is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #103 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 97% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Southport’s median household income is $87,641; among the 10,186 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$110K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Southport adults…
Southport runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Southport is an older town: 48% 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 Southport as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Southport adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Southport
1 hospital in Southport, 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 Southport; ≈ 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.
2.5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Southport adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Southport does better than North Carolina.
1 in 4 Southport 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.
6.1% of Southport adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Southport and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southport | B+ | 31.8% | 14.5% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Southport adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Southport
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Southport is better than North Carolina on 16 and worse on 8; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Southport’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Southport | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%14.6–20.2 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.7–15.6 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%10.6–14 | 16.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.8%25.1–39.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.5%12.4–16.8 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.3%40.5–50.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 45.4%40.4–50.3 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 40.5%36.1–44.9 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9–11.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14.8%13.4–16.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.6–11 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.5–10.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11%8.8–13.6 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%8.9–13.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22%17.9–26.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11%8.9–13.4 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%26–37.9 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%4.9–7.4 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 87.1%84.6–89.4 | 80% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.8%66.3–73.1 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 94.3%93.3–95.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 86%83.1–88.5 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 78.2%73.9–82 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%73.9–86.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%18.7–26 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 26.3%21.7–31 | 32.5% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.1%14.1–20.2 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.9%6.3–9.6 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6%4.9–7.1 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.5–4.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%3.9–5.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.1%4.8–7.5 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%29.1–38.3 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.3%14.7–20.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.9%9.4–12.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.7%9.3–12 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.3–8.4 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 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 Southport
Is Southport a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Southport is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #103 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Southport?
CDC estimates 31.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.1% and 39.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Southport?
J Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Southport’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Southport have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.4%), 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 Southport 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 Southport.
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.