Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Clarks is healthier than 93%
Clarks differs from Louisiana on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clarks. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clarks
Clarks is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Clarks is healthier than 29%. Against the 411 towns with similar household incomes ($21K–$35K), it’s healthier than 93%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Clarks doesn’t win on
22.5% of adults binge drink, vs 16.9% across Louisiana. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Clarks is behind on routine checkups
It trails Louisiana on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (76.1% vs 81.8%), dentist visits (51.2% vs 57.2%), cholesterol checks (79.6% vs 86.4%) and colon screening (57.9% vs 66.3%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Clarks
Clarks runs below Louisiana on seven chronic conditions, most of all cancer (4.2% vs 7.5%), heart disease (4.9% vs 7.5%) and arthritis (19.5% vs 29.7%). A young population is part of it: only 6% of residents are 65 or older (Louisiana 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Clarks’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Clarks’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarks is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 70% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Clarks’ median household income is $28,056; among the 411 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($21K–$35K), it’s healthier than 93%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Clarks compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 30.8% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 19.5% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Clarks adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Clarks adults…
Clarks runs below LA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Clarks
No hospital or community health center in Clarks 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 Clarks; ≈ 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 Clarks adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Clarks runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Clarks 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.
20.7% of Clarks adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Clarks and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarks | C | 38.7% | 10.8% | 20.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clarks adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clarks
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clarks is better than Louisiana on 9 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Clarks’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clarks | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.6%19.7–27.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.1–14.9 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.1–23.8 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.7%30.7–47.3 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.3–12.5 | 15.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 37%32.4–41.7 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.8%26.7–35.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.5%16.9–22.3 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6%5.1–6.9 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.9%14–20.3 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.3%16.6–23.9 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29%23.8–34.8 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 22.5%18.5–26.7 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45%38–52.2 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.4%8.8–14.7 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%72–80 | 81.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.2%47.3–55.2 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.6%76.3–82.9 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.5%61.7–69.1 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.9%52.7–63.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%73.3–85.8 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.5–28 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%34.3–46 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.8%31–41.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.4%21.4–32.3 | 22.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.4%17.7–25.9 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15%12.7–17.9 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.8%11.6–16.7 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.7%16.6–25.8 | 19% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.3%30.9–42.2 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.4–14.1 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%16.9–23.3 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%4.9–6.4 | 8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5–6.8 | 6.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%7.8–10.7 | 10.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.5–4.7 | 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 Clarks
Is Clarks a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clarks is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C 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 Clarks?
CDC estimates 38.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 47.3%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clarks?
Citizens Medical Center in Columbia, 4.4 miles in a straight line from Clarks’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clarks have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–14.7%), 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 Clarks more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clarks.
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.