Health · Murphy
Murphy, NC health
On most measures Murphy looks like North Carolina as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more adults who have had cancer (8.8% vs 7.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MurphyTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B−
Murphy’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Murphy is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, and than 96% of towns with similar incomes.
B-Self-rated healthB-Physical distressC+Mental distressB+ObesityBDiabetesCSmokingBExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 50%
Less healthyHealthier
North Carolina towns we grade (455)Healthier than 51%
Towns with similar incomes, $28K–$47K (1,600)Healthier than 96%
Better than its income would suggest. Murphy is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Murphy could be anywhere from D to A−.
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 Murphy 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. Murphy 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 Murphy 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
34% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
24.6% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
79% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
32.9% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
14.4% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
34% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Murphy adults…
36 of every 100 Murphy adults have high blood pressure
North Carolina: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32–41%
Bars show Murphy; the black tick is North Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Murphy, betterMurphy, worseToo close to callNorth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults
24.6% Murphy
NC 23.8%
NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
32.9% Murphy
NC 34.2%
NC 34.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.7% Murphy
NC 14.7%
NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
16.2% Murphy
NC 13.5%
NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Murphy 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 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Murphy 10.1% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection
How Murphy adults are doing
1 in 3Murphy adults feel lonely
32.9% · North Carolina 32.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Murphy adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.3% · North Carolina 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Murphy adults lack social or emotional support
22.5% · North Carolina 22.5% · too close to call
1 in 6Murphy adults are in frequent mental distress
17.9% · 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 7
Murphy adults worry about having enough food
14.4% · NC 15.2% · about the same
1 in 9
Murphy adults worry about keeping their housing
11.1% · NC 12.2% · about the same
1 in 14
Murphy adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.4% · NC 8.1% · about the same
1 in 12
Murphy adults lack reliable transportation
8.1% · NC 8.4% · about the same
11.8% of Murphy adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Disability
Living with a disability
34%
of Murphy adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs15.3%
Thinking or memory16.4%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone9.1%
Vision5.3%
Dressing or bathing4.2%
Black tick: North Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Murphy
No hospital or community health center in Murphy itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERErlanger Murphy Medical CenterMurphy · 3.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careAppalachian Mountain Community Health CentersMurphy · 3.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.8 mi
Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers
2 sites · nearest in Murphy
Appalachian Mountain Health at MurphyMurphy · 3.8 mi
Appalachian Mountain Health at RobbinsvilleRobbinsville · 19.9 mi
22.8 mi
Georgia Mountains Health Services
2 sites · nearest in Blue Ridge
Fannin County Medical and Admin Consolidated SiteBlue Ridge · 22.8 mi
Blue Ridge Bh and AdminBlue Ridge · 22.9 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careMurphy's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Cherokee County · need score 14 of 25
! Dental careMurphy's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Cherokee County · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthMurphy's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Cherokee County · need score 15 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 Murphy. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Murphy
| Measure | Murphy | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.4% | 32–41% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.2% | 32.7–41.7% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Obesity | 34% | 26.1–42.5% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2% | 25.7–32.9% | 26.9% | about the same |
| Depression | 27.3% | 23.3–31.6% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.1% | 12.2–18.8% | 13.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.4% | 10–12.8% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.8% | 8–9.7% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11.5% | 9.7–13.3% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.5% | 7.1–9.9% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7% | 6.1–7.9% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2% | 13.2–19.4% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.7% | 12.7–19% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24.6% | 19.8–29.7% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9% | 26.5–41.4% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79% | 75.2–82.4% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 59.7% | 55.8–63.9% | 63.6% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 86.6% | 84.3–88.7% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 62.7% | 57.6–68.4% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.8% | 70.7–84.8% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.1% | 72.8–78.9% | 76.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 8.1–12.6% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.9% | 27.5–38.4% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.5% | 18.8–26.4% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.9% | 15.6–20.3% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.9% | 16.6–23.4% | 19% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14% | 12–16.2% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14.4% | 11.7–17.3% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.1% | 9.3–13.1% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.4% | 6.3–8.6% | 8.1% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.1% | 6.9–9.4% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.8% | 9.5–14.3% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34% | 28.8–39.1% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.3% | 12.9–17.8% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.4% | 14–18.8% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.1% | 7–9.2% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 5.3% | 4.7–6.1% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.2% | 3.6–4.7% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 9.1% | 7.8–10.5% | 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 Murphy 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 Murphy better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Murphy 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.