Waves, NC health
Waves differs from North Carolina on 14 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing housing insecurity (7.1% vs 12.2%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (9% vs 15.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (11.4% vs 7.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WavesNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 153 people are less certain, so we show Waves's figures without a grade.
How Waves 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 Waves adults…
Bars show Waves; 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 Waves adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
How Waves 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.
7.3% of Waves adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
of Waves 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.
Care in and near Waves
No hospital or community health center in Waves 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 Waves. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Waves
| Measure | Waves | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.5% | 35.3–45.6% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 41.4% | 36.2–46.1% | 35.6% | worse |
| Obesity | 33.3% | 25–41.6% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.9% | 28.6–37.3% | 26.9% | worse |
| Depression | 24.8% | 20.6–28.9% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 9.2% | 7.3–11.5% | 13.9% | better |
| Asthma | 10.2% | 8.8–11.7% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 11.4% | 10.2–12.8% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12% | 9.9–14.4% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.1% | 6.3–10.3% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.5% | 6.3–8.8% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.7% | 3.1–4.3% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1% | 10.3–18.3% | 13.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.1% | 11.4–17.1% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 21.1% | 15.9–26.6% | 23.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.6% | 21–33% | 34.2% | better |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.2% | 78.8–85.4% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 72.2% | 68.9–75.6% | 63.6% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 92% | 90.2–93.8% | 87.5% | better |
| Colon screening | 75.6% | 70.9–80.2% | 65.7% | better |
| Mammogram | 80% | 72.9–85.9% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 80.5% | 76.8–83.6% | 76.7% | better |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 4.4–9.8% | 10.4% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 27.7% | 22.7–33.4% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 18.7% | 15.1–23.1% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.3% | 11.8–16.7% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 16.7% | 13–20.9% | 19% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.2% | 10.9–15.6% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 9% | 6.1–12.6% | 15.2% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 7.1% | 5.1–9.5% | 12.2% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 4.8% | 3.7–6.1% | 8.1% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 5.1% | 3.9–6.5% | 8.4% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 7.3% | 4.7–10.5% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.6% | 24.1–35.5% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.2% | 11.2–17.6% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.1% | 9.6–15.1% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.2% | 7–9.6% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 4.1% | 3.2–5.1% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.6% | 2.8–4.5% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 6.9% | 5.4–8.6% | 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.