Nash County Health Data

Nash County, North Carolina

Health Score

29/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

73.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

14.0%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

73.5 yr

State avg 74.4 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

14.0%

State avg 12.5%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

50

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

155

per 100K population

National avg 350

Data Story

About Health in Nash County, North Carolina

Nash County's health falls short

At 73.5 years, Nash County's life expectancy is 1.0 year below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, indicating persistent health disadvantages. With 20.9% of residents in poor or fair health—exceeding the national 21% rate—the county struggles with chronic disease burden that shortens lives.

Below average across North Carolina

Nash County's 73.5-year life expectancy trails the North Carolina average of 74.4 years by 0.9 years, positioning it in the lower half of state rankings. The 20.9% poor/fair health rate reflects persistent economic and healthcare access challenges common to rural eastern North Carolina.

Middle performer in region

Nash County's 73.5-year life expectancy exceeds Martin County's 71.1 years but falls short of McDowell County's 74.3 years and Madison County's 74.7 years. With 50 primary care providers per 100K, Nash County offers better access than Martin County's 41 but less than Mitchell County's 47, creating uneven care distribution across the region.

Uninsured rate spikes access gaps

Nash County's 14.0% uninsured rate exceeds the state average of 12.5%, leaving 1 in 7 residents without coverage and unable to afford routine care. With 50 primary care providers and 155 mental health providers per 100K, provider availability is moderate, but uninsured patients often forgo preventive care, driving emergency room overuse.

Insurance closes the access gap

About 1 in 7 Nash County residents lack health insurance, forcing them to choose between medical debt and untreated illness. Visit healthcare.gov or call your county health department to enroll in Medicaid or a marketplace plan—coverage unlocks affordable access to the doctors and services that prevent health crises.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Nash County, NC?
Nash County has a health score of 29/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #74 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 Nash County?
Life expectancy in Nash County is 73.5 years. The North Carolina state average is 74.4 years, making Nash County below the state average.
How does Nash County health compare to the North Carolina average?
Nash County's health score of 29/100 is below the North Carolina average of 41/100. Life expectancy is 73.5 years vs. the state average of 74.4 years. The uninsured rate is 14.0% vs. 12.5% statewide.
What health factors affect Nash County?
Key health factors for Nash County include: life expectancy (73.5 years), uninsured rate (14.0%), and primary care physician access (50:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 155:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Nash County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 29/100 ("Below Average"), Nash County faces health challenges compared to other counties in North Carolina. Residents have a life expectancy of 73.5 years. 14.0% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Nash County?
Nash County's health score of 29/100 is below the North Carolina average of 41/100. The uninsured rate of 14.0% means a significant portion of residents may face barriers to healthcare. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

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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.