Photo: Rgmccoy04 at English Wikipedia · Public domainWithin Louisiana, Jena is healthier than 88% of graded towns
Jena differs from Louisiana on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jena
Jena looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 88% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 48% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Jena doesn’t win on
20.9% of adults binge drink, vs 16.9% across Louisiana. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Many Jena adults are uninsured, but health holds up
1 in 7 working-age adults has no health insurance (14.5%, vs 8.9% across Louisiana). Yet the share who say their health is fair or poor, 21.6%, is about level with the state’s 24.4%. Fewer get a yearly checkup: 76.8% vs 81.8%. Checkups ↓
Jena is short on dental care and mental health care
Jena’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Stroke and COPD are less common in Jena
Jena runs below Louisiana on seven chronic conditions, most of all stroke (3% vs 4.3%), COPD (6.2% vs 8.5%) and diabetes (11.1% vs 15.2%). Conditions ↓
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 Jena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Jena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jena is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #20 of 161 in Louisiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 65% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Jena’s median household income is $71,730; among the 10,653 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$90K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Where Jena compares well: asthma, 8.6% (U.S. 9.9%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Jena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Jena adults…
Jena runs below LA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Jena
No hospital or community health center in Jena 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 Jena; ≈ 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 Jena adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
4 in 10 Jena 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.
12.4% of Jena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Jena and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jena adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jena is better than Louisiana on 10 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Jena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jena | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%18.1–25.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.2%11.3–15.2 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.5–20.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%28.5–44.7 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 15.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.7%29.8–38.1 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.6%31.5–40.1 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.8%20–25.7 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%4.9–6.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.1–7.4 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.4 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.5–15.7 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12–17.5 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.8%22.7–33.2 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.9%17.4–25 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%31.9–46 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%11.1–18.8 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%72.9–80.7 | 81.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.2–61.4 | 57.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.5%80.5–86 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.7%69.6–75.7 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%59.6–68.8 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%68.6–83 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.4–27.9 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.3%31.4–43 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.7%25.3–34.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.1%15.3–23.4 | 22.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.1%12.3–18 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.6–10.7 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8–11.4 | 11.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.4%9.8–15.3 | 19% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.7%29.7–40 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.1%10.9–15.3 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%14.8–20.1 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.1–8 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.5–6.1 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%6.8–9.3 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3–4.1 | 5.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Jena
Is Jena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jena is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #20 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jena?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 44.7%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jena?
Hardtner Medical Center in Olla, 14.5 miles in a straight line from Jena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Jena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–18.8%), 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 Jena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jena.
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.