Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bernice is healthier than 57%
Bernice differs from Louisiana on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bernice. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bernice
Bernice is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Bernice is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Bernice
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.2%), vs 22.5% across Louisiana. Utility shut-off threats (18.8% vs 12.4%) and housing insecurity (24.5% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 30.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure run high in Bernice
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (20.4%), vs 15.2% across Louisiana. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. High blood pressure is also above the state: 49.9%, vs 42.6% across Louisiana. In all, Bernice runs above Louisiana on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Bernice is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bernice is healthier than 4%. Against the 289 towns with similar household incomes ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 57%. 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 Bernice’s likely range.
What’s behind Bernice’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bernice is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns. All seven of Bernice’s estimates fall in the lowest 15% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 20.4% of adults, against 15.2% across Louisiana and 12% nationally.
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). Bernice’s median household income is $26,399; among the 289 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Bernice compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.3% of Bernice adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Bernice adults…
Bernice runs below LA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bernice
1 hospital in Bernice, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Bernice; ≈ 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 Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Bernice adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Bernice adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Bernice runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Bernice 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.
Bernice and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernice | D− | 41.2% | 20.4% | 20.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bernice adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bernice
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bernice is better than Louisiana on 2 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Bernice’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bernice | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.3%27.7–35 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.3–19.5 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.7–22.3 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.2%33.1–49.6 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 20.4%18–23 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.9%45.6–54.4 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%35.8–45 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%28.7–35.9 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6–7.3 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.9%18.1–25.9 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.1%17.3–23 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.7%32.6–43.3 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.2–16.8 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.3%38.1–52.7 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.9%9.9–14.1 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.2%79.9–86 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.5%45.4–53.5 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.7–88.3 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81%78.4–83.4 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.6–69 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%72.2–85.4 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%20.1–27.5 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38%32.8–43.6 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.1%28.9–37.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.2%29.2–37.3 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.5%21.4–27.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.8%16.6–21.2 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16%14–18 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.3%26.5–34 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.5%37.8–47.5 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.6%19.8–25.3 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%17.9–22.6 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.3–9.3 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.6%11.2–14.2 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 5.1% | 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 Bernice
Is Bernice a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bernice is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bernice?
CDC estimates 41.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 49.6%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bernice?
Reeves Memorial Medical Center in Bernice, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Bernice’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Bernice have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–14.1%), 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 Bernice 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 Bernice.
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.