Photo: TheLionHasSeen · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Louisiana, Lafayette is healthier than 82% of graded towns
Lafayette beats Louisiana on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lafayette. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lafayette
Lafayette looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 83% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 38% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Lafayette is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lafayette is healthier than 38%. Against the 9,379 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 57%. Health Grade ↓
Lafayette has five hospitals within its borders
5 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Lafayette. Getting care ↓
Lafayette is an active town
Only 25.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 30.3% across Louisiana. The town has 27 miles of trails across 37 parks and preserves. 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 Lafayette’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Lafayette’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lafayette is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #29 of 161 in Louisiana. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 62% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Lafayette’s median household income is $61,915; among the 9,379 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 57%, more than its income alone would suggest.
At 123,311 residents, Lafayette is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Lafayette
5 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Lafayette.
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 Lafayette; ≈ 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.
27 miles of trails across 37 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Lafayette adults…
Lafayette runs below LA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Lafayette adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Lafayette adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
4 in 10 Lafayette 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.
19.5% of Lafayette adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Lafayette and the towns around it
Lafayette’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lafayette adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lafayette
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lafayette is better than Louisiana on 3 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Lafayette’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lafayette | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.7%20.4–25 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.4–15.4 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.5–20.4 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.5%29.5–39.8 | 40% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 14%12.4–15.7 | 15.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%36.4–43.4 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%33.2–40.4 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%24–29.4 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.8%7.1–8.6 | 8.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 4.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.2%13.6–19 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.2–18 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%22.2–28.9 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.8%15.1–20.8 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%32.5–42.3 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.3–84.9 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.3%56.1–62.5 | 57.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.7–88 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.7–80.4 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%62.5–71.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82%76.3–86.8 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.4–29 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.2%31.9–40.6 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%22.6–29.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22%19.8–24.3 | 22.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.2%14.4–18.1 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.5%11.1–14 | 12.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.7%10.5–13 | 11.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.5%17.6–21.5 | 19% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%32–39.2 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14.6–18 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.5%15.8–19.4 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.2–7.2 | 6.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 10.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.7–5.4 | 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 Lafayette
Is Lafayette a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lafayette is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #29 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lafayette?
CDC estimates 34.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.5% and 39.8%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lafayette?
Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Lafayette’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lafayette have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.5%), 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette.
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.