Health · Williamston

Williamston, NC health

Williamston differs from North Carolina on 23 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (9.7% vs 14.7%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (82.7% vs 76.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing food insecurity (29.4% vs 15.2%).

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

Williamston’s Health Grade: D

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Williamston is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, and than 34% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressCMental distressDObesityD-DiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 6%
Less healthyHealthier
North Carolina towns we grade (455)Healthier than 7%
Towns with similar incomes, $29K–$48K (1,949)Healthier than 34%

Better than its income would suggest. Williamston is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Williamston could be anywhere from D− to C.
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 Williamston 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. Williamston 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 Williamston 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 Williamston adults…

51 of every 100 Williamston adults have high blood pressure
North Carolina: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 46.5–55.6%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Williamston, betterWilliamston, worseToo close to callNorth Carolina
Get no exerciseshare of adults 35.7% Williamston
NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 39.4% Williamston
NC 34.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults 9.7% Williamston
NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 19% Williamston
NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

84%
Yearly checkup
NC 80%
54%
Dentist visit
NC 64%
88%
Cholesterol check
NC 88%
67%
Colon screening
NC 66%
79%
Mammogram
NC 79%
83%
Taking BP meds
NC 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Williamston 13.2% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection

How Williamston adults are doing

1 in 3Williamston adults feel lonely
36.7% · North Carolina 32.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Williamston adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.3% · North Carolina 24.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Williamston adults lack social or emotional support
28.1% · North Carolina 22.5% · worse
1 in 5Williamston adults are in frequent mental distress
18.6% · 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 3
Williamston adults worry about having enough food
29.4% · NC 15.2% · worse
1 in 5
Williamston adults worry about keeping their housing
21.1% · NC 12.2% · worse
1 in 6
Williamston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
15.5% · NC 8.1% · worse
1 in 7
Williamston adults lack reliable transportation
14.5% · NC 8.4% · worse

28.6% of Williamston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.

Disability

Living with a disability

44.5%

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

Walking or climbing stairs25.6%
Thinking or memory19%
Hearing9.4%
Errands alone13.7%
Vision10.1%
Dressing or bathing7.9%

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

Getting care

Care in and near Williamston

1 community health center in Williamston, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest EREcu Health Bertie HospitalWindsor · 12.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyVidant Chowan Hospital★★★★★ · 29.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMetropolitan Community Health ServicesWilliamston · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.6 mi
Metropolitan Community Health Services
5 sites · nearest in Williamston
Sliding-scale feesIn Williamston
Directions to nearest
12.4 mi
Bertie County Rural Health Association
2 sites · nearest in Windsor
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
12.5 mi
Ecu Health Bertie Hospital
Windsor · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
18.9 mi
Washington County Hosp
Plymouth · not rated
ERRural critical access
25.1 mi
Ecu Health Medical Center
Greenville · ★★★★★
ER
29.9 mi
Vidant Chowan Hospital
Edenton · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
! Primary careWilliamston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Martin County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careWilliamston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Martin County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthWilliamston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Martin County · need score 15 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 Williamston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Williamston
MeasureWilliamstonMarginNorth Carolina
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure51%46.5–55.6%36.8%worse
High cholesterol40.3%35.7–45.1%35.6%worse
Obesity43.6%35.1–52.6%35.1%about the same
Arthritis36.2%32.4–40.2%26.9%worse
Depression23.3%19.8–27.3%24.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)21.9%18.4–25.8%13.9%worse
Asthma13.1%11.6–14.7%10.8%worse
Cancer (not skin)8.3%7.4–9.1%7.9%about the same
Diabetes20.4%18–23%12%worse
COPD11.9%10.4–13.4%7.1%worse
Heart disease10.2%9.2–11.3%6.6%worse
Stroke6.8%6.2–7.4%3.6%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes19%16.3–21.9%13.5%worse
Binge drink9.7%7.9–12%14.7%better
Get no exercise35.7%30.4–41.2%23.8%worse
Sleep under 7 hours39.4%32.3–46.7%34.2%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup84.3%81.4–87%80%better
Dentist visit53.7%49.6–57.6%63.6%worse
Cholesterol check88.3%86.6–89.9%87.5%about the same
Colon screening66.6%61.4–71.3%65.7%about the same
Mammogram79.2%71.8–85.1%78.7%about the same
Taking BP meds82.7%80.4–84.9%76.7%better
No health insurance13.2%10.9–15.7%10.4%worse
Mind & connection
Feel lonely36.7%31–42.4%32.5%about the same
Lack emotional support28.1%23.9–32.5%22.5%worse
Frequent mental distress18.6%16.5–20.9%16.5%about the same
Fair or poor health30.6%26.8–34.3%19%worse
Frequent physical distress17.6%15.5–19.9%12.7%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity29.4%25.1–33.6%15.2%worse
Housing insecurity21.1%18–24.1%12.2%worse
Utility shut-off threat15.5%13.3–17.6%8.1%worse
No reliable transportation14.5%12.5–16.5%8.4%worse
Receive SNAP28.6%24.3–32.7%12.3%
Disability
Any disability44.5%39.5–49.6%32%
Walking or climbing stairs25.6%22.7–28.8%14.2%
Thinking or memory19%16.8–21.3%14.8%
Hearing9.4%8.4–10.5%7.3%
Vision10.1%9–11.2%5.3%
Dressing or bathing7.9%7.1–8.8%4%
Errands alone13.7%12.2–15.4%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 Williamston 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 Williamston better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Williamston 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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