Hays, NC health
Hays differs from North Carolina on 6 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (6% vs 8.1%) and fewer adults facing housing insecurity (9.3% vs 12.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (9.6% vs 7.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for HaysHays’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Hays is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, and than 86% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Hays 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 Hays 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. Hays 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 Hays 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 Hays adults…
Bars show Hays; 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 Hays adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Hays 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.
8.9% of Hays adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Hays adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: North Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Hays
No hospital or community health center in Hays 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 Hays. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Hays
| Measure | Hays | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 37.6% | 33.1–42.2% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.7% | 34.2–43.3% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.1% | 28.1–44.6% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3% | 26.5–34% | 26.9% | about the same |
| Depression | 26.8% | 22.9–31.1% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.5% | 11.9–17.4% | 13.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11.4% | 9.5–13.2% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.4% | 6.9–9.9% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.7% | 3.2–4.3% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8% | 12.6–18.8% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.9% | 12.9–19.2% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 23.7% | 18.8–28.6% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8% | 27.5–40.5% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.5% | 75.6–82.8% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 56.9% | 53–60.6% | 63.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 88.1% | 86–89.9% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 63.7% | 58.7–68.6% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 73.9% | 66.2–80.9% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.5% | 74–80.6% | 76.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.3% | 7–11.8% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.7% | 27.4–38.6% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.1% | 18.4–26.3% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17% | 14.8–19.2% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18.9% | 15.4–22.3% | 19% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.1% | 11.9–16.2% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 11.7% | 9.3–14.5% | 15.2% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 9.3% | 7.6–11.3% | 12.2% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6% | 5.1–7.2% | 8.1% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6.6% | 5.5–7.8% | 8.4% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 8.9% | 7–11.2% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2% | 28–38.2% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15% | 12.3–17.5% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.4% | 13–17.7% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.4% | 7.2–9.6% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 4.8% | 4–5.6% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.4% | 7–9.8% | 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.