Health · River Bend

River Bend, NC health

River Bend differs from North Carolina on 18 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing housing insecurity (8.4% vs 12.2%) and fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (6% vs 8.1%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (13.2% vs 7.9%).

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

River Bend’s Health Grade: B−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, River Bend is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns.

C+Self-rated healthCPhysical distressAMental distressBObesityC-DiabetesBSmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 48%
Less healthyHealthier
North Carolina towns we grade (455)Healthier than 48%
Towns with similar incomes, $54K–$90K (9,729)Healthier than 57%

About what its income would suggest. River Bend does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, River Bend 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 River Bend 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. River Bend 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 River Bend 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 River Bend adults…

47 of every 100 River Bend adults have high blood pressure
North Carolina: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 42–51.8%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

River Bend, betterRiver Bend, worseToo close to callNorth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults 25.8% River Bend
NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 29.6% River Bend
NC 34.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults 11.7% River Bend
NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 13.6% River Bend
NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

85%
Yearly checkup
NC 80%
65%
Dentist visit
NC 64%
91%
Cholesterol check
NC 88%
73%
Colon screening
NC 66%
79%
Mammogram
NC 79%
84%
Taking BP meds
NC 77%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
River Bend 8.4% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection

How River Bend adults are doing

1 in 3River Bend adults feel lonely
30.3% · North Carolina 32.5% · too close to call
1 in 4River Bend adults have been diagnosed with depression
24% · North Carolina 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 5River Bend adults lack social or emotional support
19.3% · North Carolina 22.5% · too close to call
1 in 7River Bend adults are in frequent mental distress
14.5% · 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 9
River Bend adults worry about having enough food
11.6% · NC 15.2% · better
1 in 12
River Bend adults worry about keeping their housing
8.4% · NC 12.2% · better
1 in 17
River Bend adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6% · NC 8.1% · better
1 in 15
River Bend adults lack reliable transportation
6.5% · NC 8.4% · better

9.8% of River Bend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.

Disability

Living with a disability

37.4%

of River Bend adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.5%
Thinking or memory13.8%
Hearing11.7%
Errands alone9.1%
Vision5.9%
Dressing or bathing4.8%

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

Getting care

Care in and near River Bend

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

HNearest ERCarolina East Medical CenterNew Bern · 5.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyUNC Lenoir Health Care★★★★★ · 28.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careGoshen Medical CenterNew Bern · 2.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
2.1 mi
Goshen Medical Center
4 sites · nearest in New Bern
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
5.4 mi
Craven County Government
2 sites · nearest in New Bern
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
5.6 mi
Carolina East Medical Center
New Bern · ★★★★★
ER
24.9 mi
Onslow Memorial Hospital
Jacksonville · ★★★★★
ER
28.7 mi
UNC Lenoir Health Care
Kinston · ★★★★★
ER
32.6 mi
Carteret General Hospital
Morehead City · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careRiver Bend's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Craven County · need score 13 of 25
! Dental careRiver Bend's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Craven County · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthRiver Bend's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Craven County · need score 17 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 River Bend. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for River Bend
MeasureRiver BendMarginNorth Carolina
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure46.8%42–51.8%36.8%worse
High cholesterol42.8%38.2–47.9%35.6%worse
Obesity35.7%28.5–43.9%35.1%about the same
Arthritis38.6%34.3–43%26.9%worse
Depression24%20.4–28%24.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)15.4%12.3–18.8%13.9%about the same
Asthma10.8%9.4–12.3%10.8%about the same
Cancer (not skin)13.2%11.9–14.8%7.9%worse
Diabetes15%12.7–17.5%12%worse
COPD10.4%8.3–12.8%7.1%worse
Heart disease10.4%8.9–12%6.6%worse
Stroke5.2%4.4–6%3.6%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.6%10.8–16.8%13.5%about the same
Binge drink11.7%9.5–14.3%14.7%better
Get no exercise25.8%20.6–31.3%23.8%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours29.6%23.7–35.9%34.2%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup84.8%81.9–87.6%80%better
Dentist visit64.6%60.8–68.2%63.6%about the same
Cholesterol check91.4%89.9–92.8%87.5%better
Colon screening73.3%68.4–77.8%65.7%better
Mammogram78.5%70.8–84.8%78.7%about the same
Taking BP meds84.2%81.5–86.6%76.7%better
No health insurance8.4%6.3–10.7%10.4%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely30.3%25.1–35.8%32.5%about the same
Lack emotional support19.3%15.8–23.1%22.5%about the same
Frequent mental distress14.5%12.6–16.6%16.5%about the same
Fair or poor health21.3%17.5–25.5%19%about the same
Frequent physical distress15.2%12.8–17.7%12.7%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity11.6%8.9–14.8%15.2%better
Housing insecurity8.4%6.7–10.4%12.2%better
Utility shut-off threat6%5–7.2%8.1%better
No reliable transportation6.5%5.4–7.9%8.4%better
Receive SNAP9.8%7.4–12.7%12.3%
Disability
Any disability37.4%32–43%32%
Walking or climbing stairs19.5%16–23.3%14.2%
Thinking or memory13.8%11.7–16.3%14.8%
Hearing11.7%10.1–13.3%7.3%
Vision5.9%4.9–7.1%5.3%
Dressing or bathing4.8%3.9–5.7%4%
Errands alone9.1%7.5–11%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 River Bend 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 River Bend better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes River Bend 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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