Photo: MattShaw9365 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Wilson is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Wilson differs from North Carolina on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wilson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wilson
Making ends meet is harder in Wilson
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (28.7%), about twice the North Carolina rate. Utility shut-off threats (15.9% vs 8.1%) and no reliable transportation (14.8% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 28.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Wilson
1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (18%), vs 12% across North Carolina. COPD is also above the state: 10.3%, vs 7.1% across North Carolina. In all, Wilson runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Wilson adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.3%), 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 Wilson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Wilson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wilson is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns, #257 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 30% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Wilson’s median household income is $52,485; among the 6,631 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 24%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Wilson compares well: binge drinking, 11.5% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80% (U.S. 76.5%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
28.3% of Wilson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Out of every 100 Wilson adults…
Wilson runs above NC on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
7.6 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Care in and near Wilson
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Wilson, 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 Wilson; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Wilson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Wilson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Wilson runs above North Carolina.
1 in 3 Wilson 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.
Wilson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson | D | 39.5% | 18% | 18.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wilson adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wilson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wilson is better than North Carolina on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Wilson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wilson | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.5%25.5–31.6 | 19% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.5–18.3 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.2–20.5 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%31.5–47.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18%15.9–20.3 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.1%41.7–50.5 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.5%33–42.1 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1%28.6–35.7 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.9–9.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%9.3–11.5 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.3–6.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.4%20.8–28.3 | 13.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.6%16.4–21.1 | 13.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.3%28.5–38.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.5%9.3–14 | 14.7% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%31.4–44.7 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.4%12.5–16.4 | 10.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.8%79.6–85.6 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.8%50.2–57.4 | 63.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85.1–88.4 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.4–82.5 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.7%58.6–68.8 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.9–84.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%19.7–27.1 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%28.4–38.1 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.3%22.6–29.8 | 22.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.7%25.8–31.5 | 15.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.1%18.7–23.3 | 12.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.9%14.1–17.7 | 8.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.8%13.2–16.3 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28.3%25.6–30.8 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.3%36.7–45.9 | 32% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.2%19.8–24.6 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.6–20.6 | 14.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.7%9–10.5 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.5–14.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.8–8 | 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 Wilson
Is Wilson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wilson is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health, #257 of 289 in North Carolina. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wilson?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 47.8%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wilson?
Wilson Medical Center in Wilson, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Wilson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wilson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.5–16.4%), 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 Wilson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wilson.
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.