Mitchell County Health Data
Mitchell County, North Carolina
Health Score
48/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
74.1 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.3%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
74.1 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
11.3%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
47
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
127
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Mitchell County, North Carolina
Mitchell County near national average
Mitchell County's 74.1-year life expectancy sits just 0.4 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, keeping the county competitive nationally. At 16.7% poor/fair health, it ranks below the national average of 21%, suggesting residents manage chronic conditions relatively well despite rural constraints.
Middle-of-the-road health outcomes
Mitchell County's 74.1-year life expectancy trails North Carolina's 74.4-year state average by just 0.3 years, placing it near the statewide median. The 16.7% poor/fair health rate is below the state trend, indicating Mitchell County residents maintain better-than-average health status for a rural Appalachian county.
Competitive with mountain peers
Mitchell County's 74.1-year life expectancy nearly matches Madison County's 74.7 years and McDowell County's 74.3 years, though it trails Mecklenburg County's 78.8 years by far. The county's 47 primary care providers per 100K exceeds McDowell's 34 but lags Moore County's 111, revealing uneven healthcare distribution across mountain regions.
Affordable coverage, limited doctors
Mitchell County's 11.3% uninsured rate is below the state average, meaning most residents have some insurance pathway. However, with only 47 primary care providers per 100K and 127 mental health providers per 100K, residents often travel substantial distances for specialist care and behavioral health services.
Secure your health safety net
About 1 in 9 Mitchell County residents lack health insurance, risking debt from unexpected illness. Visit healthcare.gov or your county health department to enroll in coverage—having insurance means you can see a doctor before an ailment becomes an emergency.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the health ranking of Mitchell County, NC?
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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.