Health · Welcome
Welcome, NC health
Welcome differs from North Carolina on 11 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (10.4% vs 7.1%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (19.5% vs 13.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WelcomeTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Welcome’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Welcome is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns.
CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressCMental distressB-ObesityCDiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 25%
Less healthyHealthier
North Carolina towns we grade (455)Healthier than 29%
Towns with similar incomes, $48K–$79K (8,791)Healthier than 34%
About what its income would suggest. Welcome does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Welcome could be anywhere from D to B.
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 Welcome 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. Welcome 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 Welcome 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
37% have obesity
0 better6 close6 worse
Habits
28.7% get no exercise
0 better2 close2 worse
Care & screenings
79.5% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
31.4% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
16.3% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
37.3% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Welcome adults…
41 of every 100 Welcome adults have high blood pressure
North Carolina: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 36.2–44.6%
Bars show Welcome; the black tick is North Carolina. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Welcome, betterWelcome, worseToo close to callNorth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults
28.7% Welcome
NC 23.8%
NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
33.7% Welcome
NC 34.2%
NC 34.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
13.8% Welcome
NC 14.7%
NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.4% Welcome
NC 13.5%
NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Welcome 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 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Welcome 10.7% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection
How Welcome adults are doing
1 in 3Welcome adults feel lonely
31.4% · North Carolina 32.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Welcome adults have been diagnosed with depression
26.8% · North Carolina 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Welcome adults lack social or emotional support
22.4% · North Carolina 22.5% · too close to call
1 in 5Welcome adults are in frequent mental distress
18.4% · 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
Welcome adults worry about having enough food
16.3% · NC 15.2% · about the same
1 in 9
Welcome adults worry about keeping their housing
11.7% · NC 12.2% · about the same
1 in 12
Welcome adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.2% · NC 8.1% · about the same
1 in 11
Welcome adults lack reliable transportation
8.7% · NC 8.4% · about the same
14.3% of Welcome adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Disability
Living with a disability
37.3%
of Welcome adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs18%
Thinking or memory17.6%
Hearing9.7%
Errands alone10.3%
Vision6.3%
Dressing or bathing5%
Black tick: North Carolina. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Welcome
No hospital or community health center in Welcome itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERLexington Memorial HospitalLexington · 7.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careGaston Family Health ServicesLexington · 5.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.5 mi
Gaston Family Health Services
4 sites · nearest in Lexington
Kintegra Family Medicine - LexingtonLexington · 5.5 mi
Kintegra Mobile HealthLexington · 5.5 mi
Kintegra Family Dentistry - LexingtonLexington · 6.3 mi
Kintegra Family Medicine - ThomasvilleThomasville · 10.2 mi
11.3 mi
United Health Centers
3 sites · nearest in Winston Salem
United Heatlh Centers @peters Creek ParkwayWinston Salem · 11.3 mi
United Health Centers @ Kernersville RoadWinston Salem · 12.6 mi
United Health Centers @ CommonsWinston Salem · 14.8 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careWelcome's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Davidson County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careWelcome's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Davidson County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthWelcome's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Davidson County · need score 16 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 Welcome. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Welcome
| Measure | Welcome | Margin | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.5% | 36.2–44.6% | 36.8% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 38.6% | 34.1–42.8% | 35.6% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37% | 29.8–44.2% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6% | 29–36.1% | 26.9% | worse |
| Depression | 26.8% | 22.9–30.6% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 19.5% | 16.1–23.3% | 13.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.3% | 9.9–12.7% | 10.8% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6% | 7.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 13.5% | 11.5–15.4% | 12% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.4% | 9–11.7% | 7.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5% | 6.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.5% | 4.1–5% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.4% | 15.7–21.3% | 13.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 13.8% | 11.2–16.5% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28.7% | 23.9–33.5% | 23.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7% | 27.5–40.2% | 34.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.5% | 75.9–82.6% | 80% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 59.5% | 55.5–63.4% | 63.6% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 86.8% | 84.9–88.6% | 87.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.1% | 60.9–70.9% | 65.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 74.8% | 66.8–81.7% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.2% | 76.1–81.8% | 76.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 8.8–12.9% | 10.4% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.4% | 26.5–36.4% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.4% | 18.9–26.2% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.4% | 16.1–20.6% | 16.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.6% | 19.5–25.8% | 19% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.7% | 13.7–17.8% | 12.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 16.3% | 13.8–19.2% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.7% | 9.9–13.7% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.2% | 7–9.5% | 8.1% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.7% | 7.6–10% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 14.3% | 11.9–17% | 12.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.3% | 32.5–42.2% | 32% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18% | 15.5–20.4% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.6% | 15.4–19.8% | 14.8% | |
| Hearing | 9.7% | 8.5–10.9% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 6.3% | 5.7–7.1% | 5.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5% | 4.4–5.6% | 4% | |
| Errands alone | 10.3% | 9–11.6% | 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 Welcome 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 Welcome better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Welcome 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.