Ernest McCarty Oliver House · Photo: Saverivers · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, La Fayette is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
La Fayette differs from Alabama on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Fayette. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Fayette
La Fayette is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, La Fayette is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in La Fayette
44.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 56.9% across Alabama. Among those 65 and older, 27.7% have lost all their teeth (Alabama 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in La Fayette
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.6%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (22.5%), vs 14.8% across Alabama. COPD is also above the state: 11.4%, vs 8% across Alabama. In all, La Fayette runs above Alabama on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in La Fayette, and more people treating it
55% of adults have high blood pressure (Alabama 43.3%), but 81% of them take medicine for it, vs 78% statewide. Checkups ↓
La Fayette is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, La Fayette is healthier than 3%. Against the 875 towns with similar household incomes ($24K–$41K), it’s healthier than 33%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Alabama figure falls outside La Fayette’s likely range.
What’s behind La Fayette’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Fayette is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #176 of 187 in Alabama. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 17% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). La Fayette’s median household income is $32,601; among the 875 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$41K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where La Fayette compares well: binge drinking, 9.9% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of La Fayette adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
Out of every 100 La Fayette adults…
La Fayette runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near La Fayette
No hospital or community health center in La Fayette itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of La Fayette; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How La Fayette adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, La Fayette runs above Alabama.
2 in 5 La Fayette adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.2% of La Fayette adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
La Fayette and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Fayette | D− | 46.8% | 22.5% | 20.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Fayette adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Fayette
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Fayette is better than Alabama on 3 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Alabama figure falls inside La Fayette’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Fayette | AL | U.S. | vs AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.9%29.7–38.5 | 22.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.7–20.5 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.9–21.7 | 17.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.8%38.6–55.2 | 39.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 22.5%19.9–25.4 | 14.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 55%50.6–59.4 | 43.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.9%37.5–46.7 | 40.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36%32.4–39.8 | 30.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.1–13.1 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.8–11.1 | 7.3% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.4%9.9–13.3 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.6%6–7.4 | 4.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 27.7%23.3–32.5 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%17.3–24 | 15.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.5%34.8–46.6 | 28.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 9.9%7.9–12.2 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.5%38.4–52.7 | 39.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.9%11–17.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.1%80–85.9 | 80.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44.5%40.4–48.6 | 56.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.2–87.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81%78.5–83.4 | 78% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.4%63.1–73.3 | 67% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%69.7–84 | 77.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%17.6–24.5 | 23.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.1%32.8–43.7 | 35.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.6%27.1–36.2 | 24.8% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 35.2%30.3–40.1 | 19.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.5%21–28.2 | 13.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.2%15.7–20.8 | 9.6% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.7%14.4–19.3 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.2%25.7–34.9 | 14% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.9%40.7–51.3 | 36.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.3%23–29.8 | 17.1% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.7%17.2–22.7 | 16.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.4 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.4%12.6–16.5 | 9.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.1%7.1–9.4 | 4.6% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Alabama figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in La Fayette
Is La Fayette a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Fayette is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #176 of 187 in Alabama. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Fayette?
CDC estimates 46.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.6% and 55.2%, against 39.4% across Alabama and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Fayette?
The East Alabama Healthcare Authority in Opelika, 18.1 miles in a straight line from La Fayette’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Fayette have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–17.3%), against 9.9% across Alabama.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in La Fayette more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Fayette.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alabama figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.