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DonaldsonvilleCourthousePhoto: Mtortorich at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
D−Health Grade
Health in Donaldsonville · CDC PLACES 2025

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

Donaldsonville differs from Louisiana on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 20 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Donaldsonville

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

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

Making ends meet is harder in Donaldsonville

37.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.5% across Louisiana. Utility shut-off threats (21.6% vs 12.4%) and housing insecurity (27% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 35.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Dental care lags in Donaldsonville

46% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 25.9% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓

Donaldsonville is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Donaldsonville is healthier than 1%. Against the 174 towns with similar household incomes ($18K–$30K), it’s healthier than 37%. 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 Donaldsonville’s likely range.

Health Grade

What’s behind Donaldsonville’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Donaldsonville is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #130 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Donaldsonville’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 21.2% of adults, against 15.2% across Louisiana and 12% nationally.

D−Self-rated health33.1% · LA 24.4% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress18.2% · LA 15.2% · U.S. 13%
D−Mental distress21.6% · LA 19.3% · U.S. 15.9%
D−Obesity46% · LA 40% · U.S. 32.9%
D−Diabetes21.2% · LA 15.2% · U.S. 12%
D−Smoking21.8% smoke · LA 17.3% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise39.9% · 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 20%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $18K–$30K (174)Healthier than 37%

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). Donaldsonville’s median household income is $23,618; among the 174 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($18K–$30K), it’s healthier than 37%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Donaldsonville compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.5% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.2% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 85.3% (U.S. 77.4%).

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Donaldsonville could be anywhere from D− to D.

How TownRatings grades health →

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

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

4 in 10
Donaldsonville adults worry about having enough food
37.3% · LA 22.5%
Worse than LA
1 in 4
Donaldsonville adults worry about keeping their housing
27% · LA 16.8%
Worse than LA
1 in 5
Donaldsonville adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
21.6% · LA 12.4%
Worse than LA
1 in 6
Donaldsonville adults lack reliable transportation
18% · LA 11.3%
Worse than LA

35.8% of Donaldsonville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

85%Yearly checkupLA 82%
46%Dentist visitLA 57%
86%Cholesterol checkLA 86%
66%Colon screeningLA 66%
80%MammogramLA 79%
81%Taking BP medsLA 79%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Donaldsonville 10.9% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Donaldsonville adults…

Donaldsonville runs below LA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.

6 of every 100 Donaldsonville adults have had a stroke
Louisiana: 4 in 100 · worse · likely 5.7–6.7%
Better than LAWorseAbout the sameLouisiana
Getting care

Care in and near Donaldsonville

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

HNearest ERPrevost Memorial HospitalDonaldsonville · 0.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCapitol City Family Health Center IncorporatedDonaldsonville · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.8 mi
Prevost Memorial Hospital
Donaldsonville · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Donaldsonville
0.8 mi
Capitol City Family Health Center Incorporated
3 sites · nearest in Donaldsonville
Sliding-scale feesIn Donaldsonville
Directions to nearest
9.8 mi
Assumption Community Hospital
Napoleonville · not rated
ER
16.5 mi
Teche Action Board
3 sites · nearest in Pierre Part
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
17.6 mi
St. James Parish Hospital
Lutcher · not rated
ERRural critical access
18.3 mi
The Spine Hospital of Louisiana
Baton Rouge · not rated
✓ Primary careDonaldsonville is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careDonaldsonville is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthDonaldsonville is not a shortage area

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 Donaldsonville; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana

Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.

Get no exercise 39.9%LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 48.8%LA 40.1%
Binge drink 12.2%LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettes 21.8%LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Donaldsonville, betterDonaldsonville, worseAbout the sameLouisiana
Where Donaldsonville gets moving

9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Donaldsonville adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Donaldsonville runs above Louisiana.

2 in 5Donaldsonville adults feel lonely
38.8% · LA 36.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 3Donaldsonville adults lack social or emotional support
34.3% · LA 28.6% · Worse than LA
1 in 4Donaldsonville adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.1% · LA 26.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 5Donaldsonville adults are in frequent mental distress
21.6% · LA 19.3% · About the same as LA
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Donaldsonville 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.

Around town

Donaldsonville and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
DonaldsonvilleD−46%21.2%21.8%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

45.6%

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

Walking or climbing stairs24.6%
Thinking or memory21.9%
Hearing8%
Errands alone14.3%
Vision10.3%
Dressing or bathing7.9%
Louisiana

Every CDC estimate for Donaldsonville

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Donaldsonville is better than Louisiana on 3 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Donaldsonville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…DonaldsonvilleLAU.S.vs LA
Overall health
Fair or poor health33.1%29.3–3724.4%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)18.2%16.1–20.515.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)21.6%19.2–24.119.3%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity46%38.7–53.140%32.9%About the same
Diabetes21.2%18.7–23.815.2%12%Worse
High blood pressure53.1%48.8–57.242.6%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)41.2%36.8–45.538.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis34.4%30.9–37.929.7%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.8%10.4–13.310.3%9.9%Worse
Cancer, other than skin cancer6.5%5.8–7.27.5%7.9%Better
Coronary heart disease9%8.1–107.5%6.4%Worse
COPD10.8%9.5–12.28.5%6.3%Worse
Stroke6.2%5.7–6.74.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)25.9%21.6–30.118.1%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes21.8%18.8–24.817.3%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work39.9%34.6–45.230.3%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking12.2%9.9–14.816.9%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours48.8%42.8–5540.1%36%Worse
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)10.9%9–138.9%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year85.3%82.5–87.881.8%77.4%Better
Dentist visit in the past year46%42.1–49.757.2%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.3%84.4–88.286.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)81.2%78.8–83.478.8%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)65.8%60.6–70.666.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)79.9%72.9–85.579.3%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.1%21.5–28.926.6%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely38.8%34–43.936.6%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support34.3%30.3–38.728.6%23.6%Worse
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food37.3%33.1–41.922.5%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing27%23.8–30.716.8%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off21.6%19.1–24.412.4%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation18%16–20.411.3%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)35.8%31.8–40.219%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability45.6%40.7–50.538%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs24.6%21.7–27.517.6%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering21.9%19.4–24.718.4%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty8%7.1–8.98%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty10.3%9.3–11.56.7%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone14.3%12.7–16.110.3%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing7.9%7.1–8.85.1%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 Donaldsonville

Is Donaldsonville a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Donaldsonville is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #130 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 37%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Donaldsonville?

CDC estimates 46% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.7% and 53.1%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Donaldsonville?

Prevost Memorial Hospital in Donaldsonville, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Donaldsonville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Donaldsonville have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–13%), 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 Donaldsonville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.

Neighbors talk health

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

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.