Photo: Richard Byrd · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Jennings is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Jennings trails Louisiana on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jennings. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jennings
Jennings is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Jennings is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Jennings looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 31% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 3% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
COPD and heart disease run high in Jennings
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.1%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. In all, Jennings runs above Louisiana on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Jennings adults get no exercise
36.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, 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 Jennings’ likely range.
What’s behind Jennings’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jennings is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #111 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Jennings’ estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 36.9% of adults, against 30.3% across Louisiana and 24.7% 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). Jennings’ median household income is $48,558; among the 5,233 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Louisiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Jennings is healthier than 31% of graded towns, against 3% nationally.
Out of every 100 Jennings adults…
Jennings runs above LA on 4 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.
5.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Jennings
1 hospital in Jennings, 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 Jennings; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Jennings adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Jennings adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
2 in 5 Jennings 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.
23.7% of Jennings adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Jennings and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennings | D− | 43.7% | 16.9% | 20.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jennings adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jennings
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jennings is better than Louisiana on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Jennings’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jennings | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.3%25.8–33 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%15.9–20.4 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18.3–22.9 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.7%35.4–51.6 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.9%14.7–19.1 | 15.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 46.2%41.7–50.5 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.3%36.7–45.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.7%29.1–36.2 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.2–10.3 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.3%15.1–21.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.8%18–23.9 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.9%31.4–42.2 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13–18.9 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%33.2–46.8 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.6–12.2 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.1–84.4 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.3%49.4–57.2 | 57.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.3–87.1 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%78–82.9 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.8%58.7–68.8 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67–81.8 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%23.2–31.1 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.3%32.7–44 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.2%26–34.7 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.2%22.9–29.9 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.2%15.9–20.8 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%11.9–15.4 | 12.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.9%11.3–14.5 | 11.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.7%20.8–26.8 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.7%39.4–49.5 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.4%19.6–25.3 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.1%18.8–23.5 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.8–11.1 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.3–14.1 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.3%5.7–7.1 | 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 Jennings
Is Jennings a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jennings is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #111 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jennings?
CDC estimates 43.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.4% and 51.6%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jennings?
Ochsner American Legion Hospital in Jennings, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Jennings’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Jennings have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–12.2%), 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 Jennings more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Jennings.
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.