Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Waynesville is healthier than 78%
Waynesville differs from North Carolina on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waynesville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waynesville
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Waynesville
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 10%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, Waynesville runs above North Carolina on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Waynesville, and more people treating it
42.1% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Waynesville is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waynesville is healthier than 46%. Against the 7,393 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 78%. 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 Waynesville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Waynesville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waynesville is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #169 of 289 in North Carolina. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 67% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Waynesville’s median household income is $54,923; among the 7,393 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 78%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Waynesville compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%); worried about keeping housing, 10% (U.S. 12%).
Out of every 100 Waynesville adults…
Waynesville runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Waynesville is an older town: 27% 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 Waynesville as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waynesville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near Waynesville
1 community health center in Waynesville, 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 Waynesville; ≈ 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.
1.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Waynesville adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Waynesville 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.
11.8% of Waynesville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Waynesville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesville | B− | 33.8% | 13.6% | 14.5% | CDC place |
| Lake Junaluska | B | 32.1% | 13.3% | 12.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waynesville adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waynesville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waynesville is better than North Carolina on 3 and worse on 8; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Waynesville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waynesville | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%18.8–24.6 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.3–17 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.8%26.3–41.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.6%11.8–15.5 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.1%37.5–46.4 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.4%35.7–45 | 35.6% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.3%30.5–37.9 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.4%10.4–12.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.8–11.3 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13.2–19.2 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.5%12.5–16.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.3%21.9–30.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%10.9–16.3 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.4%25.1–38.1 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%8.8–12.2 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%77.5–84.1 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.7%58.9–66.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%86.8–90.1 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.6–83.6 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%63.8–73.7 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%69.8–83.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.6%22.7–30.6 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%26.2–36.3 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%16.8–23.3 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.9%11.8–16.3 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.5–11.6 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.9–8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.6–8.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.8%9.9–14 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.4%33.8–43 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%16.2–21 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.7–17.5 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.6–12.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.8 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 4% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Waynesville
Is Waynesville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waynesville is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #169 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 Waynesville?
CDC estimates 33.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.3% and 41.8%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waynesville?
Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, 4.2 miles in a straight line from Waynesville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waynesville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–12.2%), 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 Waynesville 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 Waynesville.
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.