Wilkes County Health Data
Wilkes County, North Carolina
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
31/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
73.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
13.5%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
73.7 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
13.5%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
38
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
242
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
20.6%
State avg 19.1%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
13.6
per 100K residentsCDC: 38.0 per 100K
Dentists
3.0
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
7.6
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 Wilkes County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Wilkes | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 38.2% | 37.5% | 37.6% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 10.7% | 11.2% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 34.4% | 35.3% | 33.5% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| Depression | 28.5% | 25.8% | 24.1% | 2.7 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Wilkes | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 17.8% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 1.8 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 16.7% | 15.9% | 17.8% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 25.9% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 0.6 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Wilkes | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 76.8% | 78.1% | 74.9% | 1.3 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 57.7% | 59.7% | 57.3% | 2.0 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 75.8% | 77.3% | 73.3% | 1.5 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Wilkes | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 19.5% | 18.5% | 18.6% | 1.0 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 Wilkes County nationally on depression.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Wilkes County Primary Care Provider Ratio Trails National Median
Health data brief for Wilkes County, North Carolina.
Primary care provider density in Wilkes County is 38 providers per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of 70 providers per 100,000. For further clinical care context, the county reports 242 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, while the national median is 250. Regarding health insurance coverage, 13.5% of residents under age 65 are uninsured. This figure is higher than the North Carolina average of 12.5% and the national average of 10%. Health outcomes data shows a life expectancy of 73.7 years in Wilkes County, compared to the state average of 74.4 years and the national average of 77 years. Additionally, 20.6% of adults in the county report being in poor or fair health, whereas the national average for this metric is 17%. These statistics provide a snapshot of the health and provider landscape within the county. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Wilkes 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 →Wilkes 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.