Watauga County Health Data
Watauga County, North Carolina
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
65/100
Average
Life Expectancy
79.4 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.1%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
79.4 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.1%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
79
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
524
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
16.2%
State avg 19.1%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
16.5
per 100K residentsCDC: 79.3 per 100K
Dentists
5.5
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
5.5
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 Watauga County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Watauga | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 37.0% | 37.5% | 37.6% | near state average |
| Diabetes | 10.5% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 0.7 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 33.8% | 35.3% | 33.5% | 1.5 pts better than state |
| Depression | 28.1% | 25.8% | 24.1% | 2.3 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Watauga | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 15.1% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 17.6% | 15.9% | 17.8% | 1.7 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 23.0% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 2.3 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Watauga | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 77.9% | 78.1% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 63.5% | 59.7% | 57.3% | 3.8 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 76.2% | 77.3% | 73.3% | 1.1 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Watauga | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.3% | 18.5% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 32.1% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 3.5 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Watauga 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
Watauga County Mental Health Provider Density More Than Double Median
Health data brief for Watauga County, North Carolina.
Watauga County has 524 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, a ratio that is more than double the national median of 250 per 100,000. The county also maintains 79 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national median of 70. Life expectancy in the county is 79.4 years, exceeding the North Carolina average of 74.4 years and the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 12.1%, which is lower than the state's 12.5% but higher than the national 10%. Additionally, 16.2% of residents report being in poor or fair health, slightly below the national average of 17%. These statistics provide a perspective on the availability of health professionals and health outcomes in the county. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Watauga 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 →Watauga 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.