Photo: Infrogmation · CC BY 2.5Within Louisiana, Jefferson is healthier than 74% of graded towns
Jefferson beats Louisiana on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jefferson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jefferson
Jefferson looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 74% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 27% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Jefferson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Jefferson is healthier than 27%. Against the 8,093 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 46%. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Jefferson
Grades next door run from Elmwood (A−) to Bridge City (D−). Jefferson is a C. Around town ↓
Jefferson has a top-rated hospital
Ochsner Medical Center Acute is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Jefferson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Jefferson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #43 of 161 in Louisiana. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 47% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Jefferson’s median household income is $57,235; among the 8,093 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Where Jefferson compares well: cholesterol check in 5 years, 89% (U.S. 87.1%).
Jefferson and the towns around it
Jefferson’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | C | 41.8% | 15.9% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Elmwood | A− | 37.5% | 9.9% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| New Orleans | C+ | 34% | 15.1% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Bridge City | D− | 47.8% | 20.1% | 20.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Jefferson
1 hospital in Jefferson, 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 Jefferson; ≈ 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 Jefferson adults…
Jefferson runs below 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jefferson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Jefferson adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Jefferson 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.
14.6% of Jefferson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jefferson adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jefferson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson is better than Louisiana on 8 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Jefferson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jefferson | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.6%19.9–25 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.7–16 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.7–19.4 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%36.8–46.5 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.9%14–17.8 | 15.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.1%39.6–46.4 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%35.6–42.5 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.9%28–33.7 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%7.1–9 | 8.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.8–4.5 | 4.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.1%12.6–17.9 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%13.1–17.1 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%24.8–32 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.6–19.7 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%34.8–43.2 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%7.3–10 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.3%80.8–85.7 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.8–65.1 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%87.6–90.4 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.3–83 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.6%65.7–73.3 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.6%76.2–86.2 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%22.1–28.2 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%31.5–39.1 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%23–29.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.4%16.2–20.8 | 22.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.5%12.7–16.4 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.3–12.1 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.3–10.5 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%12.6–16.6 | 19% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6%30.8–38.1 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%14.8–18.8 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.5–18 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–8.9 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.6 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8–10 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 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 Jefferson
Is Jefferson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #43 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jefferson?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.8% and 46.5%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jefferson?
Ochsner Medical Center Acute in New Orleans, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Jefferson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jefferson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–10%), 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson.
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.