Rutherford County Health Data
Rutherford County, North Carolina
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
29/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
71.9 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.3%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
71.9 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.3%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
45
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
195
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
20.6%
State avg 19.1%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
18.5
per 100K residentsCDC: 44.9 per 100K
Dentists
4.6
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
1.5
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 Rutherford County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Rutherford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 38.0% | 37.5% | 37.6% | near state average |
| Diabetes | 11.1% | 11.2% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 34.8% | 35.3% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 28.3% | 25.8% | 24.1% | 2.5 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Rutherford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 17.8% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 1.8 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 16.1% | 15.9% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 26.8% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 1.5 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Rutherford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 76.7% | 78.1% | 74.9% | 1.4 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 56.8% | 59.7% | 57.3% | 2.9 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 76.9% | 77.3% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Rutherford | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 19.7% | 18.5% | 18.6% | 1.2 pts worse than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 34.3% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 1.3 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Rutherford 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
Rutherford Primary Care Ratio Lower Than National Median
Health data brief for Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Rutherford County has 45 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of 70 per 100,000. This clinical access figure is accompanied by a life expectancy of 71.9 years, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 74.4 years and the national average of 77 years. Self-reported health outcomes show that 20.6% of the population reports poor or fair health, compared to the national benchmark of 17%. The uninsured rate in Rutherford is 12.3%, which is similar to the North Carolina average of 12.5% but higher than the 10% national rate. Mental health services are provided at a ratio of 195 providers per 100,000 residents, compared to the national median of 250. These statistics are drawn from federal health databases and provider registries. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Rutherford 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 →Rutherford Regional Medical Center
EReHealth Insurance
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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.