Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, St. Stephens is healthier than 74%
St. Stephens trails North Carolina on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for St. Stephens. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in St. Stephens
COPD runs high in St. Stephens
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.2%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
St. Stephens is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, St. Stephens is healthier than 48%. Against the 9,029 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 74%. 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 St. Stephens’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind St. Stephens’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. Stephens is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #158 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 58% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 38%).
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). St. Stephens’ median household income is $60,394; among the 9,029 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 St. Stephens adults…
St. Stephens runs above NC on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near St. Stephens
No hospital or community health center in St. Stephens 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 St. Stephens; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of St. Stephens adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How St. Stephens adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 St. Stephens 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.
12.2% of St. Stephens adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
St. Stephens and the towns around it
St. Stephens’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Stephens | B− | 37.7% | 12.5% | 15% | CDC place |
| Hickory | B− | 38% | 12.5% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Conover | C+ | 37.9% | 13.1% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Bethlehem | B | 34.6% | 12.5% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of St. Stephens adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for St. Stephens
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, St. Stephens is better than North Carolina on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside St. Stephens’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | St. Stephens | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%18–23.3 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.7–18.6 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%30.1–45.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.8–14.2 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.3–41.6 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%33.8–42.6 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.5–32 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.4–17.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.9–17.4 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%21.3–29.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%11.8–17.5 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%25–37.3 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.5%10.7–14.4 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75–82 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%56.4–63.9 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.3–88.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%73.7–79.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.1%60.8–70.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%69.4–83.5 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%21.8–29.4 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%27.9–37.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%19.2–26 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%13.5–17.9 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.3–13.6 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.6%6.6–8.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.4–9.4 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.2%10.5–14.1 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%29.5–38 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.4–17.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.9–17.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 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 St. Stephens
Is St. Stephens a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. Stephens is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #158 of 289 in North Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in St. Stephens?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 45.8%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to St. Stephens?
Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, 3.6 miles in a straight line from St. Stephens’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in St. Stephens have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–14.4%), 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 St. Stephens 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 St. Stephens.
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.