On CDC estimates, Lawtell is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Lawtell trails Louisiana on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lawtell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lawtell
Lawtell is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lawtell is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Lawtell
46.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 23.5% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Lawtell’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Stroke, heart disease and diabetes run high in Lawtell
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.7%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.5%, vs 15.2% across Louisiana. In all, Lawtell runs above Louisiana on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 33% of residents are 65 or older (Louisiana 17%), and stroke, heart disease and diabetes are more common later in life. 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 Lawtell’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Lawtell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lawtell is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 20% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 2%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Lawtell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Lawtell adults…
Lawtell runs above LA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Lawtell is an older town: 33% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Louisiana. Heart disease, COPD and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Lawtell as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Lawtell
No hospital or community health center in Lawtell 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 Lawtell; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Lawtell adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
2 in 5 Lawtell 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.
25.7% of Lawtell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Lawtell and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawtell | D | 40.2% | 19.5% | 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 Lawtell adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lawtell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lawtell is better than Louisiana on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Lawtell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lawtell | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.2%27.4–34.9 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.6–20.1 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.2–21.9 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.2%32.7–47.7 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.5%17–22 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.7%45.3–54.1 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.6–45.8 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.2%29.5–36.8 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.2–12 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.3 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.3–12.1 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.5%19.6–27.5 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.8%17.8–23.9 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.5%30.2–40.7 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.1–19.3 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.3%34.8–47.8 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%8.8–12.7 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.7%79.5–85.7 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.9%43–50.9 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.2–88 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.3–83.1 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%60.3–70.5 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%69.9–83.7 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%20.4–27.8 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.6%32.7–42.7 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.2%28.1–36.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.2%24.6–32.1 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.3%17.7–23.2 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.5%13.6–17.6 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.3–15.8 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.7%22.2–29.3 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.9%39.6–49.8 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.2%20.2–26.1 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%17.7–22.5 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%8–9.9 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.5%10.9–13.9 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.2–7.8 | 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 Lawtell
Is Lawtell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lawtell is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lawtell?
CDC estimates 40.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.7% and 47.7%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lawtell?
Opelousas General Health System in Opelousas, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Lawtell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lawtell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–12.7%), 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 Lawtell 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 Lawtell.
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.