Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Colfax is healthier than 51%
Colfax differs from Louisiana on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Colfax. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Colfax
Dental care lags in Colfax
45.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 26% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Colfax’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Colfax is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Colfax is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Colfax is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Colfax’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Colfax, and more people treating it
52% of adults have high blood pressure (Louisiana 42.6%), but 82.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Colfax is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Colfax is healthier than 3%. Against the 279 towns with similar household incomes ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 51%. 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 Colfax’s likely range.
What’s behind Colfax’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Colfax is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns. All seven of Colfax’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 19.7% 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). Colfax’s median household income is $26,250; among the 279 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.
Where Colfax compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Colfax adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Colfax
1 community health center in Colfax, 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 Colfax; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Colfax adults…
Colfax runs above LA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Colfax adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Colfax runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Colfax 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.
26.8% of Colfax adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Colfax and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colfax | D− | 44.4% | 19.7% | 19.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Colfax adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Colfax
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Colfax is better than Louisiana on 2 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Colfax’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Colfax | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.5%26.8–34.5 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.5–19.8 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.6–22.3 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.4%36.1–52.5 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.7%17.3–22.2 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 52%47.5–56.2 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.7–45.6 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.8%31.2–38.4 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7–8.6 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.3–12.2 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6%5.4–6.7 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26%21.6–30.7 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%17–23 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 37.3%31.9–42.6 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%10.7–15.9 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 47.8%40.5–54.8 | 40.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.6–11.8 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.4%81.2–86.9 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.4%41.5–49.3 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%84.9–88.8 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.3%79.9–84.2 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%59.6–69.7 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%65–80.7 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%20.6–27.9 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.9%34.1–45.3 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.3%29–38 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.9%25.6–34 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.3%18.3–24.3 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.2%14.2–18.5 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.2%12.4–16.2 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.8%23.2–30.8 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.9%38.9–48.8 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.7%20.8–26.7 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20%17.5–22.6 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–10.1 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.2–14.5 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%6–7.7 | 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 Colfax
Is Colfax a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Colfax is healthier than 3% 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 Colfax?
CDC estimates 44.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 52.5%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Colfax?
Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, 18.8 miles in a straight line from Colfax’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Colfax have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–11.8%), 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 Colfax 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 Colfax.
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.