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Downtown Arcadia, LA IMG 0807Photo: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−Health Grade
Health in Arcadia · CDC PLACES 2025

Arcadia’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns

Arcadia differs from Louisiana on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 19 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Arcadia

Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Arcadia

1 in 13 adults have had a stroke (7.7%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (24.7%), vs 15.2% across Louisiana. COPD is also above the state: 13.5%, vs 8.5% across Louisiana. In all, Arcadia runs above Louisiana on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in Arcadia

44% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 32.2% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Arcadia’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓

Arcadia is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health

On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Arcadia is healthier than fewer than 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓

More high blood pressure in Arcadia, and more people treating it

55.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Louisiana 42.6%), but 83.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.8% statewide. Checkups ↓

Arcadia is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Arcadia is healthier than 0%. Against the 206 towns with similar household incomes ($19K–$31K), it’s healthier than 19%. 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 Louisiana figure falls outside Arcadia’s likely range.

Health Grade

What’s behind Arcadia’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Arcadia is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #140 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Arcadia’s estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 24.7% of adults, against 15.2% across Louisiana and 12% nationally.

D−Self-rated health37.8% · LA 24.4% · U.S. 19.4%
D−Physical distress20.4% · LA 15.2% · U.S. 13%
D−Mental distress21.1% · LA 19.3% · U.S. 15.9%
D−Obesity50.6% · LA 40% · U.S. 32.9%
D−Diabetes24.7% · LA 15.2% · U.S. 12%
D−Smoking23.5% smoke · LA 17.3% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise45.9% · LA 30.3% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Near the bottom
Less healthyHealthier
Louisiana towns we grade (161)Healthier than 12%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $19K–$31K (206)Healthier than 19%

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). Arcadia’s median household income is $24,860; among the 206 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($19K–$31K), it’s healthier than 19%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Arcadia compares well: binge drinking, 11.3% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 85.4% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.3% (U.S. 76.5%).

A firm grade. Even with every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Arcadia stays D−.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Arcadia adults…

Arcadia runs above LA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 Arcadia adults have had a stroke
Louisiana: 4 in 100 · worse · likely 6.8–8.6%
Better than LAWorseAbout the sameLouisiana
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

85%Yearly checkupLA 82%
44%Dentist visitLA 57%
86%Cholesterol checkLA 86%
64%Colon screeningLA 66%
78%MammogramLA 79%
83%Taking BP medsLA 79%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Arcadia 11.7% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Getting care

Care in and near Arcadia

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Arcadia, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERBienville Medical CenterArcadia · 0.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyNorthern Louisiana Medical Center★★★★★ · 17.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMercy Medical Health CenterArcadia · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.5 mi
Bienville Medical Center
Arcadia · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Arcadia
0.7 mi
Mercy Medical Health Center
5 sites · nearest in Arcadia
Sliding-scale feesIn Arcadia
Directions to nearest
12.3 mi
PHSC-Grambling Family Health Center
Ruston · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
17 mi
Northern Louisiana Medical Center
Ruston · ★★★★★
ER
18.8 mi
Claiborne Memorial Medical Center
Homer · ★★★★★
ER
21.7 mi
Minden Medical Center
Minden · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Arcadia itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Arcadia itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Arcadia itself

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 Arcadia; ≈ 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 Louisiana

Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.

Get no exercise 45.9%LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 46.7%LA 40.1%
Binge drink 11.3%LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettes 23.5%LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Arcadia, betterArcadia, worseAbout the sameLouisiana
Where Arcadia gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Arcadia adults are doing

About the same as Louisiana on each measure.

2 in 5Arcadia adults feel lonely
39.7% · LA 36.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 3Arcadia adults lack social or emotional support
32.9% · LA 28.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 4Arcadia adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.9% · LA 26.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 5Arcadia adults are in frequent mental distress
21.1% · LA 19.3% · About the same as LA
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Arcadia 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.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

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

2 in 5
Arcadia adults worry about having enough food
40.7% · LA 22.5%
Worse than LA
3 in 10
Arcadia adults worry about keeping their housing
27.7% · LA 16.8%
Worse than LA
1 in 4
Arcadia adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
23.4% · LA 12.4%
Worse than LA
1 in 5
Arcadia adults lack reliable transportation
19.7% · LA 11.3%
Worse than LA

41.6% of Arcadia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.

Around town

Arcadia and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
ArcadiaD−50.6%24.7%23.5%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

50.1%

of Arcadia adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs29.7%
Thinking or memory22.8%
Hearing10.2%
Errands alone16.7%
Vision12.9%
Dressing or bathing9.9%
Louisiana

Every CDC estimate for Arcadia

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Arcadia is better than Louisiana on 3 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Arcadia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…ArcadiaLAU.S.vs LA
Overall health
Fair or poor health37.8%33.2–42.624.4%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)20.4%17.9–23.115.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)21.1%18.5–23.819.3%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity50.6%42.2–58.940%32.9%Worse
Diabetes24.7%21.9–27.715.2%12%Worse
High blood pressure55.9%51.5–60.242.6%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)42.3%37.8–46.938.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis38%34.4–41.929.7%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.8%10.4–13.410.3%9.9%Worse
Cancer, other than skin cancer7.4%6.7–8.37.5%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease11.2%9.9–12.57.5%6.4%Worse
COPD13.5%11.6–15.68.5%6.3%Worse
Stroke7.7%6.8–8.64.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)32.2%27.2–37.318.1%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes23.5%19.7–27.617.3%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work45.9%39.8–52.330.3%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking11.3%9.1–13.916.9%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours46.7%39.6–5440.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)11.7%9.1–14.78.9%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year85.4%82.4–8881.8%77.4%Better
Dentist visit in the past year44%40–47.957.2%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years86%83.7–88.286.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)83.3%81–85.478.8%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.3%58.6–69.666.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.4%71.1–84.879.3%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.9%21.2–28.926.6%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely39.7%33.9–45.636.6%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support32.9%28.2–37.628.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food40.7%34.7–46.322.5%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing27.7%23.3–31.816.8%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off23.4%20–26.612.4%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation19.7%16.7–22.711.3%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)41.6%35.6–47.219%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability50.1%44.8–55.738%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs29.7%26.1–33.317.6%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering22.8%19.7–2618.4%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty10.2%9–11.58%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty12.9%11.3–14.76.7%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone16.7%14.4–19.110.3%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing9.9%8.5–11.45.1%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 Louisiana figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Arcadia

Is Arcadia a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Arcadia is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #140 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Arcadia?

CDC estimates 50.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 42.2% and 58.9%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Arcadia?

Bienville Medical Center in Arcadia, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Arcadia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Arcadia have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–14.7%), against 8.9% across Louisiana.

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 Arcadia more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Arcadia.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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