Mills River, NC health
Mills River differs from North Carolina on 11 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (6.7% vs 13.9%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (8.9% vs 15.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (10.7% vs 7.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Mills RiverMills River’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Mills River is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns and 85% of North Carolina towns.
About what its income would suggest. Mills River does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Mills River 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. Mills River 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 Mills River 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 Mills River adults…
Bars show Mills River; 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 Mills River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Mills River 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.
6.6% of Mills River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Mills River 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.
Mills River and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Mills River.
Obesity
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
Care in and near Mills River
1 community health center in Mills River, 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 Mills River. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Mills River
| Measure | Mills River | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.3% | 32–40.7% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 39% | 34.5–43.5% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Obesity | 29% | 22.5–36.1% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2% | 26.5–33.8% | 26.9% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.1% | 20.5–27.9% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 6.7% | 5.4–8.2% | 13.9% | better |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9–11.7% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.7% | 9.7–11.8% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 10.9% | 9.2–12.6% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 7.1% | 5.9–8.3% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7% | 6.2–8% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7% | 9.3–14.2% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.5% | 11.8–17.5% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 20% | 15.9–24.3% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.3% | 25.4–37.4% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 81.4% | 78–84.4% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 72% | 68.7–75.1% | 63.6% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 90.4% | 89–91.8% | 87.5% | better |
| Colon screening | 70.6% | 65.9–74.9% | 65.7% | better |
| Mammogram | 79.4% | 72.3–85.4% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.8% | 76.6–82.6% | 76.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 6.1–9.4% | 10.4% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 28.2% | 23.4–33.1% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 18.5% | 15.3–22% | 22.5% | better |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.5% | 12.6–16.6% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 16.1% | 13.4–19.1% | 19% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.2% | 10.4–14.2% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 8.9% | 7.2–10.9% | 15.2% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 7.3% | 6.1–8.8% | 12.2% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 4.8% | 4.1–5.7% | 8.1% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2% | 8.4% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 6.6% | 5.3–8.1% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4% | 24.8–34.1% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.2% | 11–15.6% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.3% | 10.5–14.3% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 6.8% | 5.8–7.9% | 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.