Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, West Canton is healthier than 97%
West Canton differs from North Carolina on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Canton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Canton
West Canton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, West Canton is healthier than 54%. Against the 1,170 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and COPD run high in West Canton
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. 1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, West Canton runs above North Carolina on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (North Carolina 17%), and cancer and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer West Canton adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Carolina. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 West Canton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind West Canton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Canton is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 66% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). West Canton’s median household income is $34,464; among the 1,170 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 West Canton adults…
West Canton runs above NC on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Canton is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Carolina. COPD, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in West Canton as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.7% of West Canton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Care in and near West Canton
No hospital or community health center in West Canton 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 West Canton; ≈ 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 West Canton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How West Canton adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 West Canton 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.
West Canton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Canton | B− | 34% | 11.8% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Canton | B | 33.3% | 10.7% | 14.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Canton adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Canton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Canton is better than North Carolina on 4 and worse on 3; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside West Canton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Canton | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.3%16.3–22.7 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.2–16.4 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.2–19.8 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%26.5–42.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10–13.7 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.5%34–43.3 | 36.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38%33.5–42.8 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.1%27.3–35.1 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.8–10.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.2–9.9 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.8%13.8–20.1 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%12.4–18.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.2%19.7–29.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%12.6–18.6 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%27–40.7 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.1–11.2 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%75.8–82.7 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.4%56.6–64.1 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%85.9–89.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.6–81.5 | 76.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%59.4–70 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%71–84.7 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%23.7–32.2 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27.1–37.7 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%17.8–25.1 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.3%10.1–14.9 | 15.2% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8.2–11.7 | 12.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.5–7.8 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6–8.2 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.7%7.8–11.9 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.5%30.5–41 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.7%13.3–18.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.5–18 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 5.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.5–10.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.5–4.6 | 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 West Canton
Is West Canton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Canton is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Canton?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.5% and 42.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Canton?
Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, 4.4 miles in a straight line from West Canton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Canton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–11.2%), 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 West Canton 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 West Canton.
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.