Columbus, NC health
Columbus differs from North Carolina on 13 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (5.3% vs 8.1%) and fewer adults facing housing insecurity (8.3% vs 12.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (12.5% vs 7.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for ColumbusColumbus’s Health Grade: B+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, and than 90% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Columbus is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B+.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in North Carolina ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Columbus with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Columbus uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
How Columbus compares with North Carolina
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Columbus adults…
Bars show Columbus; the black tick is North Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
NC 23.8%
NC 34.2%
NC 14.7%
NC 13.5%
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Columbus adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.9% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Columbus adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: North Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Columbus
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Columbus, 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 Columbus. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Columbus
| Measure | Columbus | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 41.5% | 36.9–46% | 36.8% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.4% | 35.7–45.1% | 35.6% | worse |
| Obesity | 33.6% | 25.8–41.8% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 34% | 30.3–37.9% | 26.9% | worse |
| Depression | 23.4% | 19.8–27.2% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.8% | 12–17.7% | 13.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9–11.7% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 12.5% | 11.3–13.9% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12.9% | 11–15.1% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.5% | 7.1–10.1% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 9.1% | 7.9–10.3% | 6.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.5% | 4–5.1% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6% | 9.5–14.2% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 13.2% | 10.7–15.9% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24.6% | 20–29.5% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.4% | 23.5–35.8% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81.9% | 78.6–84.9% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 66.6% | 63.1–70% | 63.6% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 89.9% | 88.2–91.6% | 87.5% | better |
| Colon screening | 71.5% | 66.6–75.9% | 65.7% | better |
| Mammogram | 78.3% | 70.8–84.5% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 81.9% | 79.2–84.3% | 76.7% | better |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 8–13.1% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29.4% | 24.6–34.6% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 19.2% | 15.9–22.6% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.5% | 12.5–16.5% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.1% | 16.1–22.4% | 19% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.7% | 11.8–15.8% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 10.6% | 8.3–12.9% | 15.2% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 8.3% | 6.7–9.9% | 12.2% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.3% | 4.4–6.2% | 8.1% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1% | 8.4% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 7.9% | 6.1–9.9% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36% | 31.1–41.1% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 17.4% | 14.6–20.3% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 13.6% | 11.6–15.9% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 11% | 9.7–12.4% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 5.4% | 4.7–6.2% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4% | 3.4–4.7% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.5% | 7.2–10% | 8.2% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.