Gaston County Health Data
Gaston County, North Carolina
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
40/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
73.0 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.2%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
73.0 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.2%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
52
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
302
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
18.1%
State avg 19.1%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
9.5
per 100K residentsCDC: 52.4 per 100K
Dentists
4.3
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
14.3
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 Gaston County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Gaston | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 35.9% | 37.5% | 37.6% | 1.6 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 10.7% | 11.2% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 33.7% | 35.3% | 33.5% | 1.6 pts better than state |
| Depression | 25.9% | 25.8% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Gaston | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 15.0% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 1.0 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 16.4% | 15.9% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 24.4% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 0.9 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Gaston | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 78.2% | 78.1% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 61.0% | 59.7% | 57.3% | 1.3 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 77.9% | 77.3% | 73.3% | 0.6 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Gaston | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.3% | 18.5% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 38.1% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 2.5 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Gaston County nationally on short sleep duration.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Life expectancy in Gaston County trails national and state averages
Health data brief for Gaston County, North Carolina.
The average life expectancy in Gaston County is 73.0 years, which is four years shorter than the national average of 77 years and lower than the North Carolina average of 74.4 years. Data shows 18.1% of residents report poor or fair health, slightly higher than the national average of 17%. In terms of healthcare access, the county has 52 primary care providers per 100,000 people, which is below the national median of 70. However, the mental health provider ratio of 302 per 100,000 is higher than the national median of 250. The uninsured rate is 11.2%, which is lower than the state average of 12.5% but remains above the national average of 10%. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Gaston 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
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Caromont Regional Medical Center
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.