Watauga County
North CarolinaFIPS 37189
Pop. 54,0861 HospitalSVI 0.42RUCC 5 (Urban Adj.)PC HPSADental HPSAMH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Watauga County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 9.9% | 11.2% | ▼ |
| Adult Obesity | 33.7% | 35.7% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 12.1% | 12.5% | ▼ |
| PCPs per 10K | 7.9 | 5.2 | ▼ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 6,649.342 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
45
Primary Care Physicians
82.2 per 100k
98
NPs & PAs
179.0 per 100k
43
Dentists
99
Hospital Beds
1.8 per 1,000
$10,080.53
Medicare Per Capita
1316.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Watauga County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 10.0% | — | |
| Obesity | 33.4% | — | |
| Depression | 27.3% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 17.8% | — | |
| COPD | 7.0% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 12.1% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 6.4% | — | |
| Stroke | 3.2% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 33.4% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 17.4% | — | |
| Disability | 32.4% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 21.4% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 16.6% | — | |
| Uninsured | 8.7% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Watauga's 1 hospital.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.42
Socioeconomic Status0.86
Household Composition & Disability0.00
Minority Status & Language0.24
Housing Type & Transportation0.60
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
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Primary Care
Designated Shortage Area
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Dental Health
Designated Shortage Area
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Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Watauga County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga Medical Center | Boone | 117 | Rural |
Hospital Closures
| Hospital | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Blowing Rock Hospital | 2013 | Converted |
Source: UNC Sheps Center for Health Services Research
Related Pages
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.