Photo: Richard David Ramsey · CC BY-SA 4.0Kentwood’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Kentwood differs from Louisiana on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kentwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kentwood
Kentwood is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Kentwood is healthier than fewer than 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Kentwood
1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (7.2%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (24.1%), vs 15.2% across Louisiana. COPD is also above the state: 13.1%, vs 8.5% across Louisiana. In all, Kentwood runs above Louisiana on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Kentwood
42.9% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.5% across Louisiana (about twice the Louisiana rate). Utility shut-off threats (25.1% vs 12.4%) and no reliable transportation (21.3% vs 11.3%) are higher too. 43.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Kentwood, and more people treating it
54.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Louisiana 42.6%), but 81.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 78.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Kentwood’s likely range.
What’s behind Kentwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kentwood is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Kentwood’s estimates fall in the lowest 2% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 52.9% 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). Kentwood’s median household income is $31,364; among the 715 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$39K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Kentwood compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Kentwood adults…
Kentwood runs below LA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
43.9% of Kentwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Keeping up with care
Share of Kentwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Kentwood
1 community health center in Kentwood, 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 Kentwood; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
How Kentwood adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Kentwood runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Kentwood 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.
Kentwood and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentwood | D− | 52.9% | 24.1% | 25.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kentwood adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kentwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kentwood is better than Louisiana on 3 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Kentwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kentwood | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 37.7%33.1–42.5 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.5–22.6 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.6%19.9–25.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 52.9%46.4–59 | 40% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 24.1%21.3–26.8 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 54.1%50–58 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.7%35.7–43.6 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.5%33.1–39.8 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.2%9.1–11.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.2%22–30.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.4%21.4–29.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 42.9%37.1–48.4 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%10.7–15.4 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.8%39.7–51.8 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.3%9.4–15.5 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.2%81.5–86.9 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.4%41.5–49.2 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%82.9–87.4 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.5%79.2–83.7 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%64.8–74.1 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%70.7–83.6 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%20.6–27.4 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 42.3%36.8–47.5 | 36.6% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.4%30.7–40.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 42.9%36.9–49 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 30.8%26.3–35.2 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 25.1%21.7–28.5 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.3%18.2–24.6 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 43.9%37.7–49.9 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 49.4%44–54.6 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.9%25.5–32.5 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.7%20.5–27 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.7 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 12.6%10.8–14.4 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.5%14.3–19 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.9%8.6–11.4 | 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 Kentwood
Is Kentwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kentwood is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Kentwood?
CDC estimates 52.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 46.4% and 59%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kentwood?
Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, 13.8 miles in a straight line from Kentwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Kentwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–15.5%), 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 Kentwood 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 Kentwood.
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.