Photo: Morgan Riley · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Wanchese is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns
Wanchese differs from North Carolina on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wanchese. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wanchese
What’s behind Wanchese’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wanchese is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 63% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Wanchese’s median household income is $88,750; among the 10,111 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$111K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Wanchese adults…
Wanchese runs above NC on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wanchese
No hospital or community health center in Wanchese 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 Wanchese; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wanchese adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Wanchese adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
3 in 10 Wanchese 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.
10.5% of Wanchese adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Wanchese and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanchese | B | 34.4% | 11.7% | 15.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wanchese adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wanchese
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wanchese is better than North Carolina on 1 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Wanchese’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wanchese | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%15.8–22.6 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%11.6–15.8 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.5–19.2 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%26.2–42.5 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%9.8–13.6 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%33–42.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%32.7–41.9 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%25.9–33.3 | 26.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.2–8.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%6.8–10 | 7.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.2–4.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.2%10.6–16.3 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%12.4–19 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.3%19.4–29.5 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.3–18.4 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.9%24–36.5 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.5–12.2 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.7–82.9 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64%60.3–67.7 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%85.3–89.9 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%74.1–80.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.2%56.1–66.3 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%67.6–82.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.2%22.1–30.4 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.8%25.8–36.3 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.5%17–24.5 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%10.1–16 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%7.9–12 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.5–8.1 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%5.9–8.6 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%8.1–13.4 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%27.6–38.1 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.4–17.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%12.7–17.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.3–9.6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.1–9.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.4–4.7 | 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 Wanchese
Is Wanchese a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wanchese is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 48%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wanchese?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.2% and 42.5%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wanchese?
The Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head, 7.1 miles in a straight line from Wanchese’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wanchese have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–12.2%), 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 Wanchese 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 Wanchese.
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.