Sunnyside · Photo: Nicholas Oren Rawlings · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Wendell is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
Wendell differs from North Carolina on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wendell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wendell
What’s behind Wendell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wendell is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #70 of 289 in North Carolina. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 92% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 55%.
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). Wendell’s median household income is $95,787; among the 9,195 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$120K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Wendell adults…
Wendell runs below NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wendell
No hospital or community health center in Wendell 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 Wendell; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
2.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Wendell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Wendell adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 Wendell 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 Wendell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Wendell and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wendell adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wendell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wendell is better than North Carolina on 10 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Wendell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wendell | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.1%13.9–18.4 | 19% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.2–12 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.9–18.9 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.5%27.9–37.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%29.6–36.1 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%29.5–36.2 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.8%19.4–24.4 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.4 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.1–15.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%9.8–13.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.5%17.3–23.9 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.7–17.6 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%29.7–38 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.5–12.2 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76.3–82.2 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.9%64.9–70.9 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.2–89.7 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.6%69.5–75.7 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%60.1–68.6 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%72.7–84.5 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%21.6–27.9 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%29.7–37.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%19.8–26.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%11.7–16.3 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.5–14.4 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.7–9 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.8–9 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.5%8.7–12.6 | 12.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.7%23.3–30.3 | 32% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9.4–12.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.3–16 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.7–6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.1–7.9 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.5 | 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 Wendell
Is Wendell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wendell is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #70 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wendell?
CDC estimates 32.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 37.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wendell?
Wakemed, Raleigh Campus in Raleigh, 13.4 miles in a straight line from Wendell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wendell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–12.2%), 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 Wendell 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 Wendell.
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.