Waco, NC health
On most measures Waco looks like North Carolina as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more adults who have had cancer (9.1% vs 7.9%) and fewer adults seeing a dentist (58.3% vs 63.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WacoNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 171 people are less certain, so we show Waco's figures without a grade.
How Waco 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 Waco adults…
Bars show Waco; 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 Waco adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Waco 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.
11.6% of Waco adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Waco 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 Waco
No hospital or community health center in Waco 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 Waco. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Waco
| Measure | Waco | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 39.1% | 34.7–43.3% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.6% | 33–41.9% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.1% | 27.9–44.1% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5% | 26–32.8% | 26.9% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.3% | 21.4–29% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.7% | 12.5–19% | 13.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.2% | 9.8–12.5% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.1% | 8.1–10% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11.9% | 10.2–13.7% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.1% | 6.8–9.4% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7% | 12.2–17.4% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.6% | 11.8–17.5% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24.8% | 20.5–29.5% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1% | 27.4–40.9% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 80% | 76.4–83.1% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58.3% | 54.2–62.2% | 63.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 87.6% | 85.7–89.4% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.8% | 59–69.8% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77% | 68.9–83.6% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.5% | 74.5–80.2% | 76.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 8.4–12.7% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.2% | 28–38.6% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.7% | 19.1–26.5% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.9% | 14.8–19% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.6% | 16.7–22.7% | 19% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.5% | 11.7–15.4% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14.5% | 11.9–17.3% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.4% | 9.5–13.4% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.5% | 6.3–8.7% | 8.1% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8% | 6.8–9.2% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.6% | 9.4–13.9% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34% | 29.4–38.7% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.2% | 13–17.6% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.5% | 13.4–17.7% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 5.3% | 4.6–6% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.7% | 7.5–9.9% | 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.