Photo: Kubigula · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Spruce Pine is healthier than 94%
Spruce Pine differs from North Carolina on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Spruce Pine. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Spruce Pine
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Spruce Pine
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.6% across North Carolina. In all, Spruce Pine runs above North Carolina on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Spruce Pine is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Spruce Pine is healthier than 49%. Against the 3,073 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 94%. 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 Spruce Pine’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Spruce Pine’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spruce Pine is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 56% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 41%).
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). Spruce Pine’s median household income is $42,098; among the 3,073 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Spruce Pine compares well: worried about keeping housing, 9.9% (U.S. 12%).
Out of every 100 Spruce Pine adults…
Spruce Pine runs below NC on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Spruce Pine
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Spruce Pine, 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 Spruce Pine; ≈ 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.
1.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Spruce Pine adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Spruce Pine adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Spruce Pine 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.
10.4% of Spruce Pine adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Spruce Pine and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Pine | B− | 37.3% | 12.5% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Spruce Pine adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Spruce Pine
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Spruce Pine is better than North Carolina on 3 and worse on 5; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Spruce Pine’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Spruce Pine | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.8%16.9–23 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.4–16.2 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–19 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.3%29–46.3 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.7–14.5 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39%34.6–43.6 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34–43.5 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.1–35.6 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.5–10.1 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%7.9–12.3 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.2–17.3 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%20.9–30.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.8–17.6 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%25–39 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.4–12.3 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.4%76.9–83.8 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.1%59.2–67 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.3–89.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.2–81.9 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%62.4–73 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%69.1–84.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.1–30.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%25.9–36.2 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%17–23.9 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%10.5–15.2 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.9%8.2–11.6 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.5–7.7 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.2–8.4 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.4%8.4–12.5 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.2–40 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14–18.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%13.4–17.7 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 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 Spruce Pine
Is Spruce Pine a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spruce Pine is healthier than 49% 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 Spruce Pine?
CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29% and 46.3%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Spruce Pine?
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Spruce Pine’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Spruce Pine have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–12.3%), 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 Spruce Pine more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Spruce Pine.
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.