Within Louisiana, Central is healthier than 97% of graded towns
Central differs from Louisiana on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Central. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Central
Central looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 97% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 70% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Central is an active town
Only 20.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 30.3% across Louisiana. Habits ↓
Cancer runs high in Central
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.4%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Central
Grades next door run from Zachary (B+) to Brownfields (D−). Central is a B+. Around town ↓
Central keeps up with checkups
It beats Louisiana on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (67.8% vs 57.2%) and cholesterol checks (89.5% vs 86.4%). Checkups ↓
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 Central’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Central’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Central is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #6 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 81% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 51%.
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). Central’s median household income is $89,554; among the 9,993 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 69%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
6.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Central adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Central adults…
Central runs below LA on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Central and the towns around it
Central has the best Health Grade of the 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | B+ | 31.2% | 11.7% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| Denham Springs | C+ | 37.8% | 13.6% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Brownfields | D− | 44.7% | 22% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Zachary | B+ | 34.1% | 11.7% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Monticello | C− | 41.3% | 16.9% | 15.2% | CDC place |
| St. George | — | — | — | — |
St. George: no CDC estimate of its own. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Central
No hospital or community health center in Central 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 Central; ≈ 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).
How Central adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Central does better than Louisiana.
1 in 3 Central 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.
8.7% of Central adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Central adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Central
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Central is better than Louisiana on 21 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Central’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Central | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%15.2–19.4 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.2–19 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.2%26.8–35.8 | 40% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 15.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 38.6%35.2–42 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%35.4–42.4 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.9%27–32.7 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.4–10.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.2 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.6 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.6 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.5–12.7 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.3%11.4–15.2 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.6%17.6–23.7 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19%16.2–21.8 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%32.4–41.1 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%5–6.9 | 8.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.7–84.1 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.8%64.7–70.8 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.1–90.8 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%76.6–81.7 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72%67.9–75.8 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82%76.3–86.7 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%24.1–30.6 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%28.9–37 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%21.4–27.7 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%10.3–13.6 | 22.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.8–11.6 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%6.1–8 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.7%7.5–10.1 | 19% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.6%28.2–35.1 | 38% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%11.5–14.9 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.5–16.8 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%3–3.6 | 5.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Central
Is Central a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Central is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #6 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 69%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Central?
CDC estimates 31.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 35.8%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Central?
Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Central’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Central have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–6.9%), 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 Central more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Central.
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.