Northampton County Health Data
Northampton County, North Carolina
Health Score
30/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.0 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.2%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.0 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
10.2%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
12
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
96
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Northampton County, North Carolina
Northampton faces significant life expectancy gap
At 72.0 years, Northampton County's life expectancy falls 4.4 years below the national average of 76.4 years and trails North Carolina's state average by 2.4 years. More than one in five residents (22.5%) report poor or fair health—well above the national rate of 17.1%. These metrics signal persistent health challenges that demand targeted attention.
Among North Carolina's lowest life expectancy counties
Northampton ranks near the bottom of North Carolina counties for life expectancy, sitting 2.4 years below the state average of 74.4 years. Its 22.5% poor/fair health rate represents one of the state's highest disease burden rates. Despite these challenges, the uninsured rate of 10.2% is slightly better than the state average, suggesting coverage access alone doesn't explain the health disparities.
Severe provider shortage limits care access
Northampton has just 12 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—fewer than one-sixth the state's strong counties and a critical gap for a county of its size. Mental health provider availability at 96 per 100,000 is similarly constrained compared to regional centers like New Hanover (592 per 100K) or even smaller peers like Pasquotank (263 per 100K). These shortages force many residents to travel long distances for basic health services.
Healthcare desert limits daily health choices
Residents in Northampton often travel 30+ miles to reach specialists, delaying diagnosis and treatment for serious conditions. The combination of few primary care doctors and high rates of poor health suggests that even insured residents struggle to access quality preventive care. Emergency departments become the default care setting when prevention fails, driving worse outcomes.
Nearly all Northampton residents should have coverage
With only 10.2% uninsured, most Northampton residents have health plans—but coverage means little without accessible providers. If you lack coverage, visit ncdhhs.gov or call 211 to explore Medicaid or marketplace plans. Combined with local health departments and federally qualified health centers, coverage ensures you can access the healthcare that Northampton needs.
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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.