Health · Glen Alpine
Glen Alpine, NC health
Glen Alpine differs from North Carolina on 9 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (10.3% vs 7.1%) and more smokers (19.2% vs 13.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Glen AlpineTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Glen Alpine’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Glen Alpine is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns.
C-Self-rated healthCPhysical distressCMental distressC+ObesityC-DiabetesDSmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 20%
Less healthyHealthier
North Carolina towns we grade (455)Healthier than 22%
Towns with similar incomes, $52K–$87K (9,616)Healthier than 18%
About what its income would suggest. Glen Alpine does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Glen Alpine could be anywhere from D− to 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 Glen Alpine 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. Glen Alpine 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.
Report card
How Glen Alpine 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
37.9% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
29.9% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
79.6% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
33.3% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
18.5% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
37.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Glen Alpine adults…
40 of every 100 Glen Alpine adults have high blood pressure
North Carolina: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 35.5–44.5%
Bars show Glen Alpine; the black tick is North Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Glen Alpine, betterGlen Alpine, worseToo close to callNorth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults
29.9% Glen Alpine
NC 23.8%
NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
34.8% Glen Alpine
NC 34.2%
NC 34.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.3% Glen Alpine
NC 14.7%
NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
19.2% Glen Alpine
NC 13.5%
NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Glen Alpine adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Yearly checkup
NC 80%Dentist visit
NC 64%Cholesterol check
NC 88%Colon screening
NC 66%Mammogram
NC 79%Taking BP meds
NC 77%1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Glen Alpine 11.6% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection
How Glen Alpine adults are doing
1 in 3Glen Alpine adults feel lonely
33.3% · North Carolina 32.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Glen Alpine adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.4% · North Carolina 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Glen Alpine adults lack social or emotional support
23% · North Carolina 22.5% · too close to call
1 in 5Glen Alpine adults are in frequent mental distress
18.5% · North Carolina 16.5% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 5
Glen Alpine adults worry about having enough food
18.5% · NC 15.2% · about the same
1 in 8
Glen Alpine adults worry about keeping their housing
13% · NC 12.2% · about the same
1 in 11
Glen Alpine adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.1% · NC 8.1% · about the same
1 in 11
Glen Alpine adults lack reliable transportation
9.5% · NC 8.4% · about the same
16.7% of Glen Alpine adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Disability
Living with a disability
37.5%
of Glen Alpine adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs18.1%
Thinking or memory17.8%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone10.6%
Vision6.7%
Dressing or bathing5.2%
Black tick: North Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Glen Alpine
No hospital or community health center in Glen Alpine itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERBlue Ridge Healthcare HospitalsMorganton · 7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHigh Country Community HealthMorganton · 5.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.6 mi
High Country Community Health
3 sites · nearest in Morganton
Morganton Office 301 E Meeting StreetMorganton · 5.6 mi
Burke DentalMorganton · 7.2 mi
Eastern Burke HcchConnelly Springs · 14.6 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careGlen Alpine's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Burke County · need score 13 of 25
! Dental careGlen Alpine's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Burke County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthGlen Alpine's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Burke County · need score 18 of 25
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 Glen Alpine. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Glen Alpine
| Measure | Glen Alpine | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.1% | 35.5–44.5% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.6% | 32.9–41.9% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.9% | 30–46.1% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4% | 27.8–35% | 26.9% | worse |
| Depression | 27.4% | 23.3–31.4% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 18.2% | 14.8–21.9% | 13.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.2% | 9.8–12.7% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.7% | 7.7–9.6% | 7.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 14.1% | 12–16.2% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.3% | 8.6–12.1% | 7.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4% | 6.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.4% | 3.9–5% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2% | 15.8–23.1% | 13.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 14.3% | 11.5–17.1% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 29.9% | 24.8–35.6% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.8% | 28.4–41.8% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.6% | 75.9–82.8% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 60.2% | 56.3–64% | 63.6% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.8% | 83.5–87.8% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 61.7% | 56.5–66.5% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.8% | 68.8–83.4% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.8% | 74.6–80.5% | 76.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | 9.2–14.6% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.3% | 27.9–38.6% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23% | 19.2–26.9% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.5% | 16–21.1% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 23.9% | 20.1–28.1% | 19% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.6% | 13.4–18% | 12.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18.5% | 14.9–22.3% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 13% | 10.7–15.4% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.1% | 7.6–10.7% | 8.1% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.5% | 8–11.2% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 16.7% | 13.3–20.2% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5% | 32.3–43% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18.1% | 15.4–21.1% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.8% | 15–20.7% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.2% | 4.4–6% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 10.6% | 8.9–12.4% | 8.2% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Glen Alpine door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the North Carolina figure falls inside it, we don't call Glen Alpine better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Glen Alpine directly, so these are its own figures.
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.