Photo: Billy Hathorn · Public domainHomer’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Homer differs from Louisiana on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Homer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Homer
Dental care lags in Homer
33.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 42.5% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Homer
1 in 12 adults have had a stroke (8.4%), about twice the Louisiana rate. 1 in 6 adults have COPD (16.6%), about twice the Louisiana rate. Diabetes is also above the state: 26.6%, vs 15.2% across Louisiana. In all, Homer runs above Louisiana on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Homer adults get no exercise
1 in 2 adults get no exercise outside work (49.4%), vs 30.3% across Louisiana. Habits ↓
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 Homer’s likely range.
What’s behind Homer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Homer’s estimates fall in the lowest 1% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 53.7% of adults, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% 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). Homer’s median household income is $23,160; among the 148 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($17K–$29K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Homer compares well: binge drinking, 11.2% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Homer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Homer adults…
Homer runs above LA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Homer residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Louisiana. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
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.
Care in and near Homer
1 hospital in Homer, 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 Homer; ≈ 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 Homer adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Homer runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Homer 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.
53.5% of Homer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Homer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer | D− | 53.7% | 26.6% | 29.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Homer adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Homer
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Homer is better than Louisiana on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Homer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Homer | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 43.5%38.9–48.3 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.1%20.5–26.1 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.8%21.2–26.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 53.7%45–62.6 | 40% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 26.6%23.8–29.8 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 57.7%53.4–62.3 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.8%37.3–46.6 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 38.8%35.2–42.7 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 12.2%11–13.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 16.6%14.7–18.8 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 42.5%36.9–48.1 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 29.6%25.6–34 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 49.4%43.3–55.8 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.2%9.1–13.7 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 51.6%44.3–59 | 40.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.8%10.9–17.1 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.7%81.8–87.3 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 33.6%29.9–37.2 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.3–85.9 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.4%80.1–84.5 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.5%50.7–62.1 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.6%62.7–79.2 | 79.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.6%22.8–30.8 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.3%33.5–45 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.1%30.3–40 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 50%44.5–55.5 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 34.3%30–38.6 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 30.3%26.8–33.6 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 25%21.8–28.4 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 53.5%48–58.7 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 54.8%49.5–60.5 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 33.2%29.7–36.9 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 26.8%23.7–30 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.9%9.7–12.1 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 15.8%14.1–17.6 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 20%17.6–22.5 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 12.5%11.1–14.2 | 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 Homer
Is Homer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Homer?
CDC estimates 53.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 45% and 62.6%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Homer?
Claiborne Memorial Medical Center in Homer, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Homer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Homer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.9–17.1%), 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 Homer more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Homer.
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.