Health · Newton

Newton, NC health

On most measures Newton looks like North Carolina as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (12.4% vs 10.4%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Newton
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Newton’s Health Grade: B−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Newton is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns, and than 67% of towns with similar incomes.

C+Self-rated healthBPhysical distressB-Mental distressC+ObesityB-DiabetesB-SmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 45%
Less healthyHealthier
North Carolina towns we grade (455)Healthier than 45%
Towns with similar incomes, $47K–$78K (8,608)Healthier than 67%

Better than its income would suggest. Newton 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, Newton could be anywhere from C− 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 Newton 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. Newton 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 Newton 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

Out of every 100 Newton adults…

38 of every 100 Newton adults have high blood pressure
North Carolina: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 33.6–41.9%

Bars show Newton; the black tick is North Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Newton, betterNewton, worseToo close to callNorth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults 25.9% Newton
NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 32.6% Newton
NC 34.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults 14.6% Newton
NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 15% Newton
NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Newton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.

79%
Yearly checkup
NC 80%
60%
Dentist visit
NC 64%
87%
Cholesterol check
NC 88%
66%
Colon screening
NC 66%
78%
Mammogram
NC 79%
77%
Taking BP meds
NC 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Newton 12.4% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection

How Newton adults are doing

1 in 3Newton adults feel lonely
34.1% · North Carolina 32.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Newton adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.4% · North Carolina 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Newton adults lack social or emotional support
23.8% · North Carolina 22.5% · too close to call
1 in 6Newton adults are in frequent mental distress
17.2% · 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 6
Newton adults worry about having enough food
16.3% · NC 15.2% · about the same
1 in 8
Newton adults worry about keeping their housing
12.7% · NC 12.2% · about the same
1 in 12
Newton adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.1% · NC 8.1% · about the same
1 in 11
Newton adults lack reliable transportation
8.7% · NC 8.4% · about the same

12.8% of Newton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.

Disability

Living with a disability

34.4%

of Newton adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs15.8%
Thinking or memory16.1%
Hearing8.3%
Errands alone9.1%
Vision5.9%
Dressing or bathing4.3%

Black tick: North Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Newton

Newton 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 Newton.

Conover: 37.9% Hickory: 38% St. Stephens: 37.7% Mountain View: 37% Long View: 39.3% Brookford: 36.9% Northlakes: 28.5% Granite Falls: 31.3% Newton: 38.2% Newton Conover Hickory Catawba Valley Medical Center · Hickory · 4 mi · 2★ MedicareH Frye Regional Medical Center · Hickory · 7.9 mi · 2★ MedicareH Kintegra Family Dentistry - Hickory · Hickory · 4.1 mi+
28.5%39.3%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#8 of 9towns on this map, healthiest first
Conover37.9%
Hickory38%
Newton38.2%
5 places to get careNearest ER 4 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Newton

No hospital or community health center in Newton itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERCatawba Valley Medical CenterHickory · 4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyAtrium Health Lincoln★★★★★ · 12.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careGaston Family Health ServicesHickory · 4.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4 mi
Catawba Valley Medical Center
Hickory · ★★★★★
ER
4.1 mi
Gaston Family Health Services
8 sites · nearest in Hickory
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
7.9 mi
Frye Regional Medical Center
Hickory · ★★★★★
ER
12.1 mi
Atrium Health Lincoln
Lincolnton · ★★★★★
ER
19.9 mi
Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital
Mooresville · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careNewton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Catawba County · need score 12 of 25
! Dental careNewton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Catawba County · need score 13 of 25
! Mental healthNewton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Catawba County · need score 12 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 Newton. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Newton
MeasureNewtonMarginNorth Carolina
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure37.8%33.6–41.9%36.8%about the same
High cholesterol37.4%33.2–41.8%35.6%about the same
Obesity38.2%30.7–46.2%35.1%about the same
Arthritis28.7%25.3–31.9%26.9%about the same
Depression25.4%21.7–29.2%24.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)15.7%12.6–18.8%13.9%about the same
Asthma10.8%9.5–12.2%10.8%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.6%7.8–9.4%7.9%about the same
Diabetes12.5%10.8–14.3%12%about the same
COPD8%7–9%7.1%about the same
Heart disease7.2%6.4–8%6.6%about the same
Stroke4%3.6–4.3%3.6%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15%12.9–17.3%13.5%about the same
Binge drink14.6%11.9–17.6%14.7%about the same
Get no exercise25.9%21.5–30.3%23.8%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.6%26.2–38.8%34.2%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup78.7%75–82.1%80%about the same
Dentist visit60.3%56.2–63.7%63.6%about the same
Cholesterol check86.8%85–88.6%87.5%about the same
Colon screening66.4%61–71%65.7%about the same
Mammogram77.6%69.6–83.6%78.7%about the same
Taking BP meds76.9%73.8–79.5%76.7%about the same
No health insurance12.4%10.7–14.5%10.4%worse
Mind & connection
Feel lonely34.1%29–39.4%32.5%about the same
Lack emotional support23.8%20.4–27.5%22.5%about the same
Frequent mental distress17.2%15.1–19.2%16.5%about the same
Fair or poor health20.7%18–23.5%19%about the same
Frequent physical distress13.8%12–15.5%12.7%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity16.3%14–18.8%15.2%about the same
Housing insecurity12.7%10.9–14.5%12.2%about the same
Utility shut-off threat8.1%7.1–9.3%8.1%about the same
No reliable transportation8.7%7.7–9.9%8.4%about the same
Receive SNAP12.8%10.9–14.8%12.3%
Disability
Any disability34.4%30–38.8%32%
Walking or climbing stairs15.8%13.7–17.9%14.2%
Thinking or memory16.1%14.1–18%14.8%
Hearing8.3%7.3–9.3%7.3%
Vision5.9%5.3–6.5%5.3%
Dressing or bathing4.3%3.9–4.8%4%
Errands alone9.1%8–10.2%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 Newton 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 Newton better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Newton 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01