Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to LaFayette

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Marsh-Warthen HouseMarsh-Warthen House · Photo: Harold Bush-Brown, Photographer Enlarged by L.D. Andrew · Public domain
DHealth Grade
Health in LaFayette · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, LaFayette is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns

LaFayette trails Georgia on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for LaFayette. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in LaFayette

COPD, heart disease and arthritis run high in LaFayette

1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.5% across Georgia. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.8%), vs 6.1% across Georgia. Arthritis is also above the state: 30.6%, vs 24.6% across Georgia. In all, LaFayette runs above Georgia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in LaFayette

50.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.2% across Georgia. Among those 65 and older, 19.4% have lost all their teeth (Georgia 14.5%). Checkups ↓

Depression is more common in LaFayette

1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (22.8%), vs 19% across Georgia. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.9%, vs 16.9% across Georgia. Mind & connection ↓

LaFayette is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, LaFayette is healthier than 12%. Against the 4,356 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 38%. 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 Georgia figure falls outside LaFayette’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.

Health Grade

What’s behind LaFayette’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, LaFayette is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #186 of 261 in Georgia. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 23% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 10%).

C−Self-rated health24% · GA 20.3% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress16.9% · GA 13.5% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress19.9% · GA 16.9% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity39.7% · GA 35.2% · U.S. 32.9%
C−Diabetes14.2% · GA 13.3% · U.S. 12%
C−Smoking18.8% smoke · GA 13.6% · U.S. 11.8%
DExercise32.4% · GA 26.5% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 12%
Less healthyHealthier
Georgia towns we grade (261)Healthier than 29%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $35K–$58K (4,356)Healthier than 38%

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). LaFayette’s median household income is $46,018; among the 4,356 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 38%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Few Georgia towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state LaFayette is healthier than 29% of graded towns, against 12% nationally.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, LaFayette could be anywhere from D− to C+.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 LaFayette adults…

LaFayette runs above GA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 LaFayette adults have COPD
Georgia: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 8.4–10.9%
Better than GAWorseAbout the sameGeorgia
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of LaFayette adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Georgia.

77%Yearly checkupGA 78%
51%Dentist visitGA 59%
84%Cholesterol checkGA 87%
62%Colon screeningGA 64%
70%MammogramGA 76%
78%Taking BP medsGA 77%
1 in 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
LaFayette 13.9% · Georgia 1 in 8 (13.1%)
Mind & connection

How LaFayette adults are doing

On 2 of 4 measures, LaFayette runs above Georgia.

4 in 10LaFayette adults feel lonely
36.9% · GA 37.3% · About the same as GA
1 in 4LaFayette adults lack social or emotional support
23.2% · GA 24.6% · About the same as GA
1 in 4LaFayette adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.8% · GA 19% · Worse than GA
1 in 5LaFayette adults are in frequent mental distress
19.9% · GA 16.9% · Worse than GA
The one neighbors can help with

4 in 10 LaFayette adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Getting care

Care in and near LaFayette

1 community health center in LaFayette, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERCommonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North GeorgiaRinggold · 16.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCommonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia★★★★★ · 16.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health Care Center of DadeLa Fayette · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.5 mi
Primary Health Care Center of Dade
5 sites · nearest in La Fayette
Sliding-scale feesIn LaFayette
Directions to nearest
16 mi
Hamilton Medical Center
Dalton · ★★★★★
16 mi
Tri-Med Family Care
Ringgold · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
16.4 mi
Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia
Ringgold · ★★★★★
ER
22.5 mi
Parkridge Medical Center
Chattanooga · ★★★★★
ER
22.9 mi
Memorial Healthcare System
Chattanooga · ★★★★★
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers LaFayette itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers LaFayette itself
✓ Mental healthLaFayette is not a shortage area

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 LaFayette; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Georgia

Share of adults, with the Georgia figure marked.

Get no exercise 32.4%GA 26.5%
Sleep under 7 hours 41.4%GA 38.4%
Binge drink 14.8%GA 14.5%
Smoke cigarettes 18.8%GA 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
LaFayette, betterLaFayette, worseAbout the sameGeorgia
Where LaFayette gets moving

2.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 5
LaFayette adults worry about having enough food
18.6% · GA 17.7%
About the same as GA
1 in 7
LaFayette adults worry about keeping their housing
14.3% · GA 15%
About the same as GA
1 in 11
LaFayette adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.4% · GA 9.6%
About the same as GA
1 in 10
LaFayette adults lack reliable transportation
10.1% · GA 9.5%
About the same as GA

16.1% of LaFayette adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.2% across Georgia.

Around town

LaFayette and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
LaFayetteD39.7%14.2%18.8%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

35.9%

of LaFayette adults live with a disability (Georgia 29.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs17.4%
Thinking or memory17.8%
Hearing8.4%
Errands alone11.2%
Vision6.5%
Dressing or bathing5.1%
Georgia

Every CDC estimate for LaFayette

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, LaFayette is better than Georgia on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Georgia figure falls inside LaFayette’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…LaFayetteGAU.S.vs GA
Overall health
Fair or poor health24%20.9–27.120.3%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)16.9%14.9–18.913.5%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)19.9%17.7–22.116.9%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity39.7%32.3–47.435.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes14.2%12.4–1613.3%12%About the same
High blood pressure40%36–44.137.4%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)39.4%35.3–43.836.8%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30.6%27.3–33.924.6%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.9%9.6–12.210.1%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.7%7.8–9.67%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.8%6.9–8.66.1%6.4%Worse
COPD9.7%8.4–10.96.5%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.3%3.9–4.73.6%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)19.4%16.2–23.214.5%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18.8%16.1–21.413.6%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work32.4%27.4–37.326.5%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking14.8%12.2–17.914.5%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours41.4%35.2–48.338.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)13.9%11.6–16.413.1%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year77.4%73.7–80.978.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year50.6%46.8–54.659.2%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years84.3%82.2–86.386.8%87.1%Worse
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.3%75.5–80.777.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)61.5%56.3–66.964.4%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)70.3%62–7875.8%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression22.8%19.4–26.419%20.6%Worse
Feel lonely36.9%31.7–42.437.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support23.2%19.9–26.924.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food18.6%15.9–21.817.7%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing14.3%12.3–16.515%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off9.4%8.2–10.89.6%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation10.1%8.8–11.59.5%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)16.1%13.8–18.814.2%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability35.9%31.4–40.529.6%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs17.4%15.1–19.714%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering17.8%15.6–19.914.4%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty8.4%7.5–9.46.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty6.5%5.8–7.15.6%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone11.2%9.9–12.58.7%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing5.1%4.5–5.64.2%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 Georgia figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in LaFayette

Is LaFayette a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, LaFayette is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #186 of 261 in Georgia. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 38%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in LaFayette?

CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.3% and 47.4%, against 35.2% across Georgia and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to LaFayette?

Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia in Ringgold, 16.4 miles in a straight line from LaFayette’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in LaFayette have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 13.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–16.4%), against 13.1% across Georgia.

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 LaFayette 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 LaFayette.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Georgia 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.