Merrydale’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Merrydale differs from Louisiana on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merrydale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merrydale
Merrydale is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Merrydale is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Merrydale
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (26.2%), about twice the Louisiana rate. Food insecurity (42.2% vs 22.5%) and housing insecurity (31.7% vs 16.8%) are higher too. 42.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Merrydale
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.7%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (23.3%), vs 15.2% across Louisiana. High blood pressure is also above the state: 54.1%, vs 42.6% across Louisiana. In all, Merrydale runs above Louisiana on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Merrydale looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 21% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 1% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Merrydale, and more people treating it
54.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Louisiana 42.6%), but 81.4% 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 Merrydale’s likely range.
What’s behind Merrydale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merrydale is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #126 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Merrydale’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 23.3% of adults, against 15.2% across Louisiana and 12% 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). Merrydale’s median household income is $41,500; among the 2,848 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 6%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Merrydale compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.1% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.1% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 85.1% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
42.7% of Merrydale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Merrydale adults…
Merrydale runs below LA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Merrydale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Merrydale
No hospital or community health center in Merrydale 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 Merrydale; ≈ 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Merrydale adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Merrydale runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Merrydale 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.
Merrydale and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrydale | D− | 47.5% | 23.3% | 21.6% | CDC place |
| Baton Rouge | C− | 37.9% | 15.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Merrydale adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merrydale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merrydale is better than Louisiana on 4 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Merrydale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merrydale | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.4%30.5–38.7 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.9–20.3 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19.4–24.3 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47.5%42.2–52.7 | 40% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 23.3%21–25.9 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 54.1%50.7–57.5 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%34.4–41.3 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%30.3–36.3 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.5%11.1–14.1 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.5–5.6 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.6%9.2–12.3 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.7%6–7.4 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.5%21.5–29.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.6%18.4–25.1 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.9%32.3–41.8 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.1%10.2–14.3 | 16.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 50.3%45.6–54.9 | 40.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.8%8.6–13.5 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 85.1%82.7–87.4 | 81.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.5%46–53 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.8–88.7 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.4%79.3–83.5 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.2%60.6–69.5 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.8%78.5–88.2 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.3%21.3–27.5 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.4%35.8–44.7 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 36.1%31.8–40.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 42.2%37–47.2 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31.7%27.5–35.8 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 26.2%22.8–29.4 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.2%18.3–24.1 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 42.7%37.1–47.5 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.4%40.9–50 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.3%22.4–28.5 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.8%20–25.7 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 11.6%10.3–13.2 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.9%13–17.1 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.1%8–10.4 | 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 Merrydale
Is Merrydale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merrydale is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #126 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 6%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merrydale?
CDC estimates 47.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 42.2% and 52.7%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merrydale?
The General in Baton Rouge, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Merrydale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Merrydale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–13.5%), 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 Merrydale more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Merrydale.
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.