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Main street in FranklinPhoto: Piccor at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−Health Grade
Health in Franklin · CDC PLACES 2025

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

Franklin differs from Louisiana on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Franklin

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

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

Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Franklin

1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.5%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. 1 in 8 adults have COPD (12%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. Diabetes is also above the state: 21.2%, vs 15.2% across Louisiana. In all, Franklin runs above Louisiana on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Franklin

1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.5%), vs 22.5% across Louisiana. Utility shut-off threats (18.5% vs 12.4%) and no reliable transportation (16.1% vs 11.3%) are higher too. 32.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓

More high blood pressure in Franklin, and more people treating it

52.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Louisiana 42.6%), but 82.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.8% statewide. 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 Franklin’s likely range.

Health Grade

What’s behind Franklin’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #134 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Franklin’s estimates fall in the lowest 6% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 48.7% of adults, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.

D−Self-rated health33.4% · LA 24.4% · U.S. 19.4%
D−Physical distress19.1% · LA 15.2% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress20.7% · LA 19.3% · U.S. 15.9%
D−Obesity48.7% · LA 40% · U.S. 32.9%
D−Diabetes21.2% · LA 15.2% · U.S. 12%
D−Smoking22.3% smoke · LA 17.3% · U.S. 11.8%
D−Exercise39.7% · 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 17%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $30K–$49K (2,250)Healthier than 6%

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). Franklin’s median household income is $39,518; among the 2,250 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$49K), it’s healthier than 6%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Franklin compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.2% (U.S. 76.5%).

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

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Franklin adults…

Franklin runs above LA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

7 of every 100 Franklin adults have had a stroke
Louisiana: 4 in 100 · worse · likely 6–7.1%
Better than LAWorseAbout the sameLouisiana
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

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

1 in 3
Franklin adults worry about having enough food
33.5% · LA 22.5%
Worse than LA
1 in 4
Franklin adults worry about keeping their housing
23.6% · LA 16.8%
Worse than LA
1 in 5
Franklin adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
18.5% · LA 12.4%
Worse than LA
1 in 6
Franklin adults lack reliable transportation
16.1% · LA 11.3%
Worse than LA

32.1% of Franklin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

85%Yearly checkupLA 82%
51%Dentist visitLA 57%
87%Cholesterol checkLA 86%
66%Colon screeningLA 66%
79%MammogramLA 79%
82%Taking BP medsLA 79%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Franklin 10.6% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Getting care

Care in and near Franklin

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

HNearest ERBayou Bend Health SystemFranklin · 1.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyOchsner St. Mary★★★★★ · 19.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careTeche Action BoardFranklin · 1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1 mi
Teche Action Board
3 sites · nearest in Franklin
Sliding-scale feesIn Franklin
Directions to nearest
1.5 mi
Bayou Bend Health System
Franklin · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Franklin
19.3 mi
Ochsner St. Mary
Morgan City · ★★★★★
ER
21.7 mi
Iberia Medical Center
New Iberia · ★★★★★
ER
22.9 mi
Iberia Comprehensive Community Health Center
3 sites · nearest in New Iberia
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
30.9 mi
Assumption Community Hospital
Napoleonville · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Franklin itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Franklin itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Franklin itself

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 Franklin; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana

Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.

Get no exercise 39.7%LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 45.2%LA 40.1%
Binge drink 13.2%LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettes 22.3%LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Franklin, betterFranklin, worseAbout the sameLouisiana
Where Franklin gets moving

0.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Franklin adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Franklin runs above Louisiana.

2 in 5Franklin adults feel lonely
39.5% · LA 36.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 3Franklin adults lack social or emotional support
32.8% · LA 28.6% · Worse than LA
1 in 4Franklin adults have been diagnosed with depression
26% · LA 26.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 5Franklin adults are in frequent mental distress
20.7% · LA 19.3% · About the same as LA
The one neighbors can help with

2 in 5 Franklin 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

Franklin and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
FranklinD−48.7%21.2%22.3%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

46.6%

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

Walking or climbing stairs26%
Thinking or memory21.2%
Hearing9.5%
Errands alone14%
Vision10.3%
Dressing or bathing8.1%
Louisiana

Every CDC estimate for Franklin

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Franklin is better than Louisiana on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Franklin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…FranklinLAU.S.vs LA
Overall health
Fair or poor health33.4%30–37.224.4%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)19.1%17.1–21.515.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)20.7%18.5–23.119.3%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity48.7%40.8–56.740%32.9%Worse
Diabetes21.2%18.8–23.915.2%12%Worse
High blood pressure52.3%48.1–56.742.6%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)43.2%38.8–47.738.3%37.1%Worse
Arthritis36%32.5–39.829.7%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.6%10.2–1310.3%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer7.8%7–8.67.5%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease10.1%9.1–11.27.5%6.4%Worse
COPD12%10.7–13.58.5%6.3%Worse
Stroke6.5%6–7.14.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)25.9%21.8–30.318.1%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes22.3%19.6–25.517.3%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work39.7%34.7–45.130.3%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking13.2%10.7–15.916.9%15.4%Better
Sleep under 7 hours45.2%38.6–52.240.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)10.6%8.9–12.38.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year84.8%81.8–87.481.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year51.1%47.2–55.157.2%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.1%85.4–88.786.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)82.2%79.8–84.578.8%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)66.4%61.2–71.366.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)79.1%71.8–85.179.3%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression26%22.4–3026.6%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely39.5%34.4–45.336.6%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support32.8%28.9–37.428.6%23.6%Worse
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food33.5%30.1–37.422.5%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing23.6%21–26.716.8%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off18.5%16.5–20.712.4%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation16.1%14.4–18.111.3%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)32.1%28.9–35.719%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability46.6%41.9–51.638%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs26%23.3–29.117.6%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering21.2%19.1–23.618.4%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty9.5%8.5–10.68%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty10.3%9.4–11.36.7%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone14%12.6–15.610.3%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing8.1%7.3–8.95.1%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 Franklin

Is Franklin a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #134 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 6%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Franklin?

CDC estimates 48.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.8% and 56.7%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Franklin?

Bayou Bend Health System in Franklin, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Franklin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Franklin have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.9–12.3%), 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 Franklin 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 Franklin.

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.