Wilson County Health Data
Wilson County, North Carolina
Health Score
22/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
72.6 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.9%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
72.6 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.9%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
40
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
219
per 100K population
National avg 350
Data Story
About Health in Wilson County, North Carolina
Wilson County faces significant health gap
Wilson County residents live an average of 72.6 years, nearly 6.6 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.2 years. Nearly one in four adults (24.3%) report being in poor or fair health—the highest rate among these four counties—indicating substantial ongoing health challenges and chronic disease burden.
Shortest lifespan in North Carolina group
At 72.6 years, Wilson County's life expectancy ranks 1.8 years below North Carolina's state average of 74.4 years, marking the lowest in this cohort of four counties. The county's uninsured rate of 12.9% sits just slightly above the state average of 12.5%, suggesting broader access barriers beyond insurance alone.
Health disparities clear among peers
Wilson County's life expectancy of 72.6 years lags all three neighboring counties in this analysis, falling 1.4 years below Wilkes County and 3.4 years behind Yancey County. The county does offer 40 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, competitive with its peers, but the higher poor health rate suggests quality-of-care or socioeconomic factors at play.
Access exists, but outcomes lag
Wilson County provides 40 primary care providers and 219 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, offering similar provider availability to comparable rural counties. However, 24.3% of residents reporting poor or fair health and 12.9% lacking insurance suggests that access alone isn't solving the county's health crisis—underlying poverty, chronic disease, and prevention gaps demand urgent attention.
Healthcare starts with coverage
Wilson County residents without insurance can enroll in marketplace plans at healthcare.gov or apply for North Carolina Medicaid to access preventive care and treatment. Local health departments and community health centers offer enrollment help and may offer sliding-scale care regardless of insurance status.
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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.