Photo: DiscoA340 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Surf City is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Surf City differs from North Carolina on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Surf City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Surf City
Surf City keeps up with checkups
It beats North Carolina on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71.2% vs 63.6%) and cholesterol checks (89.5% vs 87.5%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Surf City
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.5%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓
Surf City is an active town
Only 17.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.8% 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 Surf City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Surf City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Surf City is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #46 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 92% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 71%.
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). Surf City’s median household income is $81,433; among the 10,688 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Surf City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
2.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Surf City adults…
Surf City runs below NC on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Surf City
No hospital or community health center in Surf City 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 Surf City; ≈ 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).
How Surf City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Surf City does better than North Carolina.
3 in 10 Surf City 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.
6.6% of Surf City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Surf City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf City | A | 33.1% | 9.7% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Topsail Beach | — | — | — | — | |
| North Topsail Beach | A | 31.6% | 11.4% | 10% | CDC place |
Topsail Beach: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Surf City adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Surf City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Surf City is better than North Carolina on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Surf City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Surf City | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.4%12.6–16.5 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10.1–12.9 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.5–17.2 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.1%26.6–40.2 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.4–11.2 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.9%30.3–38 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%31.8–39.8 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%24.8–31.2 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.3–7 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.5%7–10.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%9.9–13.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.6%14.7–21.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.2–20.2 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.5%24.2–35.7 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.9–8.4 | 10.4% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.6–83 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.2%68.2–74.3 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.1–91 | 87.5% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.5–79.3 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.3%66–74.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%72.2–84.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.7–28.8 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.2%25–34.1 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.8%16.1–22.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.6%7.2–10.3 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.6%6.4–8.9 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.3–5.9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.6%5.4–7.9 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.1%23.6–31 | 32% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.4%9.9–13.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.4%10.9–14.1 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Surf City
Is Surf City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Surf City is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #46 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Surf City?
CDC estimates 33.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.6% and 40.2%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Surf City?
Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw, 22.9 miles in a straight line from Surf City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Surf City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–8.4%), 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 Surf City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Surf City.
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.