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Buncombe County, North Carolina

Moderate risk

Gera County Health Risk Index: 41.5/100 · National rank 273 of 480 · Population: 275,901 · CDC PLACES June 2026

What is the chronic-disease health risk in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

As of June 2026, Buncombe County, North Carolina has a Gera County Health Risk Index of 41.5/100 (national rank 273/480; moderate risk). Adult chronic-disease prevalence: obesity 31.3%, diabetes 10.9%, coronary heart disease 6.7%, smoking 12.3%. Source: CDC PLACES June 2026.

Source:CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County Data 2023 release·as of June 2026updated annually (last: )
Gera County Health Risk Index41.5 / 100Rank 273 of 480 most-populous US counties. Computed from CDC PLACES June 2026 crude prevalence for 4 chronic-disease measures, weighted and normalised 0–100. Higher = higher risk.How this index is calculated

Chronic-disease prevalence — Buncombe County (CDC PLACES June 2026)

Buncombe County, North Carolina — CDC PLACES June 2026 crude prevalence (adults)
MeasurePrevalenceWeight in GCHRI
Obesity31.3%25%
Diagnosed diabetes10.9%25%
Coronary heart disease6.7%30%
Current cigarette smoking12.3%20%
GCHRI composite score41.5 / 100—

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Search any of the 480 most-populous US counties to compare GCHRI scores and CDC prevalence rates.

Buncombe County, North Carolina

Population: 275,901 · National rank: 273 / 480 (by chronic-disease risk)

Moderate risk

Gera County Health Risk Index

41.5 / 100

Obesity

31.3%

adults

Diabetes

10.9%

adults

Heart Disease

6.7%

adults

Smoking

12.3%

adults

Source: CDC PLACES, June 2026 · Crude prevalence, adults · Full county page →

Other counties in North Carolina

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Gera County Health Risk Index for Buncombe County, NC?
Buncombe County, NC has a Gera County Health Risk Index (GCHRI) of 41.5/100, ranking 273 out of 480 most-populous US counties (rank 1 = highest chronic-disease risk). This places it in the moderate-risk tier. Source: CDC PLACES (June 2026).
What is the obesity rate in Buncombe County?
The adult obesity prevalence in Buncombe County, NC is 31.3% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence). The national mean across the 480 included counties is 31.3%.
What is the diabetes rate in Buncombe County?
The diagnosed diabetes prevalence among adults in Buncombe County, NC is 10.9% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence).
What is the coronary heart disease rate in Buncombe County?
The coronary heart disease prevalence among adults in Buncombe County, NC is 6.7% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence).
What is the smoking rate in Buncombe County?
The current cigarette smoking prevalence among adults in Buncombe County, NC is 12.3% (CDC PLACES, June 2026, crude prevalence).

Concerned about health risks in Buncombe County?

A GeraClinic care navigator can help you understand what these CDC chronic-disease rates mean for you personally, assess your individual risk factors, and connect you with preventive-care resources — fully online.

Talk to a GeraClinic care navigatorHow the Gera County Health Risk Index is calculated

Contains public sector information published by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and licensed under the U.S. Public Domain (federal government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105). Source: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County Data 2023 release (June 2026, published 2023 (released 2024)).

Informational/educational only — not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.