On CDC estimates, Fifth Ward is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Fifth Ward differs from Louisiana on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fifth Ward. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fifth Ward
Dental care lags in Fifth Ward
52% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 22.5% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓
Fifth Ward is short on primary care and mental health care
Fifth Ward’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Fifth Ward is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fifth Ward is healthier than 14%. Against the 6,227 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 33%. 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 Fifth Ward’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Fifth Ward’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fifth Ward is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 38% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Fifth Ward’s median household income is $51,279; among the 6,227 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fifth Ward adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Fifth Ward
No hospital or community health center in Fifth Ward 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 Fifth Ward; ≈ 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 Fifth Ward adults…
Fifth Ward runs above LA on 1 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Fifth Ward adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
4 in 10 Fifth Ward 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.
15.9% of Fifth Ward adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Fifth Ward and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifth Ward | D | 37.7% | 13.3% | 20.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fifth Ward adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fifth Ward
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fifth Ward is better than Louisiana on 2 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Fifth Ward’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fifth Ward | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%20.4–29.1 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.2–19.1 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%18.4–24.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%30.2–46.8 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.4–15.6 | 15.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.2%37–46.1 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%35–44.5 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30%26.6–33.9 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.7%8–11.6 | 8.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 4.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.5%18.6–26.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%16.5–24.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%25.3–36.8 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20%16.6–24.3 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%31–44.7 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%6.5–11.9 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%74.9–82.5 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%47.9–56.1 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%80.6–86.5 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.3–80.2 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.7%56.9–67.9 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%63.7–79.7 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.9%25.8–34.6 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%30.3–41.8 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%23.3–32.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.1%14.9–23.6 | 22.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.6%11–16.5 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.7%8–11.5 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.1–11.7 | 11.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.9%12.4–19.8 | 19% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.6%33.2–44.7 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%14.3–20.2 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.5%17.2–24.1 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.3–11 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.3–7.3 | 6.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%8.9–12.7 | 10.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.1–5.8 | 5.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Fifth Ward
Is Fifth Ward a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fifth Ward is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fifth Ward?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 46.8%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fifth Ward?
Avoyelles Hospital in Marksville, 5.8 miles in a straight line from Fifth Ward’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fifth Ward have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–11.9%), 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 Fifth Ward 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 Fifth Ward.
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.