Alexander County Health Data

Alexander County, North Carolina

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

45/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

74.1 yr

Uninsured Rate

11.9%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

74.1 yr

State avg 74.4 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

11.9%

State avg 12.5%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

19

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

91

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

17.3%

State avg 19.1%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

11.0

per 100K residentsCDC: 19.1 per 100K

Dentists

13.7

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

2.7

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Alexander County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureAlexanderState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity36.2%37.5%37.6%1.3 pts better than state
Diabetes10.1%11.2%11.2%1.1 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure33.5%35.3%33.5%1.8 pts better than state
Depression27.0%25.8%24.1%1.2 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureAlexanderState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking17.1%16.0%16.3%1.1 pts worse than state
Binge Drinking17.2%15.9%17.8%1.3 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity24.7%25.3%27.0%0.6 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureAlexanderState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup76.4%78.1%74.9%1.7 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)61.9%59.7%57.3%2.2 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)76.5%77.3%73.3%0.8 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureAlexanderState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress19.1%18.5%18.6%0.6 pts worse than state
Short Sleep Duration34.3%35.6%37.3%1.3 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Alexander County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Alexander County Faces Low Primary Care Provider Availability

Health data brief for Alexander County, North Carolina.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Primary care access

Alexander County records 19 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, a number significantly lower than the national median of 70. This contrast is also seen in mental health services, where the county has 91 providers per 100,000 people, compared to a national median of 250. The data shows a life expectancy of 74.1 years, which is slightly lower than the North Carolina average of 74.4 and lower than the national average of 77. About 17.3% of residents report poor or fair health, aligning with the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in the county is 11.9%, which is lower than the state average of 12.5% but higher than the 10% national average. These statistics highlight the health landscape across the county. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Alexander County, North Carolina

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Hospitals near you

No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Alexander County.

This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Alexander County, NC?
Alexander County has a health score of 45/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #40 out of 100 counties in North Carolina (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Alexander County?
Life expectancy in Alexander County is 74.1 years. The North Carolina state average is 74.4 years, making Alexander County below the state average.
How does Alexander County health compare to the North Carolina average?
Alexander County's health score of 45/100 is above the North Carolina average of 41/100. Life expectancy is 74.1 years vs. the state average of 74.4 years. The uninsured rate is 11.9% vs. 12.5% statewide.
What health factors affect Alexander County?
Key health factors for Alexander County include: life expectancy (74.1 years), uninsured rate (11.9%), and primary care physician access (19:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 91:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Alexander County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 45/100 ("Below Average"), Alexander County faces health challenges compared to other counties in North Carolina. Residents have a life expectancy of 74.1 years. 11.9% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Alexander County healthier than the North Carolina average?
Alexander County's health score of 45/100 exceeds the North Carolina average of 41/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Alexander County has better primary care access (19:1 ratio) than the state average (52:1).

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.