Gaston, NC health
Gaston differs from North Carolina on 23 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (10.7% vs 14.7%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (82.4% vs 76.7%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (26.1% vs 13.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for GastonNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 912 people are less certain, so we show Gaston's figures without a grade.
How Gaston 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 Gaston adults…
Bars show Gaston; 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 Gaston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Gaston 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.
26.1% of Gaston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Gaston 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.
Gaston and the towns around it
Care nearby
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Gaston. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Gaston
| Measure | Gaston | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 50.5% | 45.8–55.1% | 36.8% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 41.1% | 36.5–45.9% | 35.6% | worse |
| Obesity | 43.4% | 34.8–52.6% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 37.4% | 33.4–41.5% | 26.9% | worse |
| Depression | 24.8% | 21.1–29.1% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 26.1% | 21.4–30.6% | 13.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.6% | 11.1–14.4% | 10.8% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.4% | 8.5–10.4% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 19.8% | 17.2–22.7% | 12% | worse |
| COPD | 13% | 11.2–15% | 7.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3% | 6.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.8% | 17.6–24.2% | 13.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 10.7% | 8.6–13.2% | 14.7% | better |
| Get no exercise | 35.8% | 29.9–41.6% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2% | 30.8–45.3% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 83.6% | 80.5–86.6% | 80% | better |
| Dentist visit | 53.8% | 49.4–57.7% | 63.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 87.8% | 85.9–89.6% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.9% | 61–71.9% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 79.6% | 71.8–85.3% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 82.4% | 79.8–84.8% | 76.7% | better |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 10.1–15.5% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.6% | 29.1–40.4% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 26.6% | 22.6–31.2% | 22.5% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.8% | 16.5–21.2% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 30.5% | 26.5–34.8% | 19% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 18.2% | 15.9–20.7% | 12.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 26.9% | 22.8–31.2% | 15.2% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 18.9% | 16.1–21.9% | 12.2% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 14% | 12–16.1% | 8.1% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 13.3% | 11.5–15.4% | 8.4% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 26.1% | 22.1–30.3% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45% | 39.4–50.5% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 25.4% | 22.1–29% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 19.3% | 16.8–22.1% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 9.6% | 8.5–10.9% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 13.6% | 11.9–15.5% | 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.