Health Profile of Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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B
Asheville Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Asheville | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 76.7 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 11.0% | 9.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 12.0% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Asheville is 76.7 years, about 0.4 years shorter than the North Carolina average of 77.1 years. The uninsured rate is 11.0%, higher than the North Carolina average of 9.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 12.0% of residents, lower than the North Carolina average of 16.8%.
Population by Age
Older residents
27,808 residents in Asheville are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,994 584 men · 1,410 women
- 75–84 3,850 1,466 men · 2,384 women
- 65–74 7,408 3,376 men · 4,032 women
- 50–64 14,556 7,034 men · 7,522 women
Younger residents
12,322 residents in Asheville are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 3,760 2,013 boys · 1,747 girls
- 7–12 3,539 1,852 boys · 1,687 girls
- 3–7 2,855 1,438 boys · 1,418 girls
- 0–3 2,167 1,096 boys · 1,072 girls
About 5,078 residents in Asheville (6.5% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 76.7 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Asheville | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 9.3% | 12.4% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.2% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.9% | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 30.6% | 35.8% | 34.3% |
The rate of diabetes in Asheville is about 25% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of heart disease in Asheville is about 21% lower than in North Carolina.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Asheville | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 16.2% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 16.3% | 14.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 18.9% | 25.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in Asheville is about 25% lower than in North Carolina. The rate of smoking in Asheville is about 21% lower than in North Carolina.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 106,534 cigarettes a day, 3.2 million a month, or 38.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.2 million minutes a day and 427.7 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Asheville is 76.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.03 lifetimes a day, or 11 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Asheville | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 5.30 | 5.99 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 5.3 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Asheville is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Asheville, North Carolina has an overall health index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Asheville, North Carolina.
What is the health grade for Asheville, North Carolina?
Asheville, North Carolina has a Map AI Health Index grade of B, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a B grade means residents are somewhat healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in Asheville, North Carolina?
People in Asheville, North Carolina can expect to live 76.7 years on average, about the same as the North Carolina average of 77.1.
How many people lack health insurance in Asheville, North Carolina?
11.0% of residents in Asheville, North Carolina have no health insurance, about 1 in 9 people, 1.2 points above the North Carolina rate of 9.9%.
What is the obesity rate in Asheville, North Carolina?
30.6% of adults in Asheville, North Carolina are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 5.2 points below the North Carolina rate of 35.8%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Asheville, North Carolina go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 106,534 cigarettes a day, 3.2 million a month, or 38.9 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 1.2 million minutes a day and 427.7 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Asheville is 76.7 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.03 lifetimes a day, or 11 lifetimes a year.
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