Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Jonesboro is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Jonesboro differs from Louisiana on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jonesboro. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jonesboro
Dental care lags in Jonesboro
45.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 26.7% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Jonesboro’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Jonesboro is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Jonesboro is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Jonesboro looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 33% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 3% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Jonesboro is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Jonesboro’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. 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 Jonesboro’s likely range.
What’s behind Jonesboro’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jonesboro is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #109 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Jonesboro’s estimates fall in the lowest 13% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 46.7% 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). Jonesboro’s median household income is $41,786; among the 2,947 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 16%, 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 Jonesboro is healthier than 32% of graded towns, against 3% nationally.
Where Jonesboro compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Jonesboro adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Jonesboro
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro; ≈ 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 Jonesboro adults…
Jonesboro runs below LA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. 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.
How Jonesboro adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
2 in 5 Jonesboro 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.
28.9% of Jonesboro adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Jonesboro and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | D− | 46.7% | 17.6% | 19.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jonesboro adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jonesboro
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jonesboro is better than Louisiana on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Jonesboro’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jonesboro | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.9%26.1–33.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.8–19.2 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.2–23.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.7%37–56.7 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.4–20.2 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.4%41.5–51.4 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%33.2–43.4 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%26.4–33.9 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.5–12.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.8–5.7 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.7%21.8–31.9 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.6%16.7–22.6 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 38.3%32.4–44.5 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.8%11.7–18.3 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.3%36.2–52.6 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.5%9.5–13.6 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%78.4–85.4 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.3%40.6–50.1 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%81.8–86.3 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.8–81 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.6%56.2–68.7 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%65.9–83.1 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21–29.6 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.1%32.4–43.8 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.5%28–36.9 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31.8%27.8–35.7 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 22.7%19.9–25.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.4%15.2–19.5 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.6%13.7–17.4 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28.9%25.4–32.4 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.6%37.2–48.3 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.1%18.4–24 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.5–23.6 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%8–9.9 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 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 Jonesboro
Is Jonesboro a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jonesboro is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #109 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 16%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jonesboro?
CDC estimates 46.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 56.7%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jonesboro?
Jackson Parish Hospital in Jonesboro, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Jonesboro’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Jonesboro have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.5–13.6%), 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 Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro.
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.