OBJECTIVES: To examine characteristics of demographic, clinical conditions, comorbidities, quality-of-life and health care access by risk cohorts calculated using Framingham risk percent in a United States (US) national sample.   METHODS: Characteristics of 3 cohorts were defined by Framingham low risk (<10%), middle risk (10%~20%) and high risk (>20%) and compared by mean and proportions of respondents using 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES) data. RESULTS: The sample comprised 1,751 persons aged ≥20 years with all necessary analysis variables (age, total cholesterol, smoking status, HDL, systolic blood pressure, and hypertension treatment) used to calculate Framingham 10-year risk percent. Compared to respondents in low and middle risk cohorts, the high risk cohort was older (61 years old vs. 42 and 60), more male (92% vs. 45% and 84%), and reported less years of education, less married (71% vs. 32% and 32%), more smokers (57% vs. 49% and 52%), higher levels of hypertension treatment (64% vs. 19% and 51%) and a higher proportion of overweight and obese (76% vs. 61% and 72%). More high risk cohort people reported diagnoses of hypertension (60% vs. 24% and 45%), diabetes (15% vs. 5% and 11%), asthma (47% vs. 32% and 41%), and cancer (15% vs. 7% and 13%). Less of the high risk cohort reported “good health” conditions than those in low and middle risk cohorts (70% vs. 84% and 80%). The high risk cohort was more likely to report public insurance (54%) than either low (18%) or middle risk (46%) cohorts.    CONCLUSIONS: An NHANES-based Framingham 10-year high risk cohort was more likely to be defined among less educated, unmarried, overweight/obese people reporting higher numbers of comorbidities, poorer general health, and higher use of public insurance.