Photo: Wikilester1999 · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Louisiana, Natchitoches is healthier than 45% of graded towns
Natchitoches differs from Louisiana on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Natchitoches. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Natchitoches
Natchitoches looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 45% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 6% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Natchitoches
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.3%), vs 22.5% across Louisiana. Utility shut-off threats (19.6% vs 12.4%) and no reliable transportation (17.8% vs 11.3%) are higher too. 32.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Natchitoches
48.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Natchitoches’ county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Natchitoches is short on dental care and mental health care
Natchitoches’ county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Natchitoches is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Natchitoches is healthier than 6%. Against the 1,662 towns with similar household incomes ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 41%. Health Grade ↓
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 Natchitoches’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Natchitoches’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Natchitoches is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns, #89 of 161 in Louisiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 20% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Natchitoches’ median household income is $37,133; among the 1,662 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$46K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Natchitoches compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
32.2% of Natchitoches adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Keeping up with care
Share of Natchitoches adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Care in and near Natchitoches
1 hospital in Natchitoches, 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 Natchitoches; ≈ 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 Natchitoches adults…
Natchitoches runs below LA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
8.4 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Natchitoches adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Natchitoches runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Natchitoches 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.
Natchitoches and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natchitoches | D | 42.9% | 16% | 18.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Natchitoches adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Natchitoches
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Natchitoches is better than Louisiana on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Natchitoches’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Natchitoches | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.9%25.9–32.1 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.1 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.5%20.1–25 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.9%35.2–50.4 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%14.1–17.9 | 15.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 44%39.8–48 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31–38.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.4–31.5 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 8.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.3–5 | 4.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.3%17.9–24.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%16.4–21.2 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 34.3%29.5–39.1 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%12.7–18.6 | 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) | 10.3%8.7–12.1 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.2–84.6 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.2%44.5–51.8 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.9%79.8–84 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%73.8–78.4 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.5%59.1–69.4 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%71.8–84.7 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28%24.1–32 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39%33.9–44.6 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.2%27.3–35.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.3%30–36.7 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.1%21.5–26.9 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.6%17.6–21.8 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.8%16.1–19.8 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.2%29.2–35.2 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.4%37.8–47.1 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.3%17.1–21.6 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.4%20.2–24.8 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.1%8.3–9.9 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.5%12.2–14.9 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 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 Natchitoches
Is Natchitoches a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Natchitoches is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health, #89 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Natchitoches?
CDC estimates 42.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 50.4%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Natchitoches?
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Natchitoches’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Natchitoches have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–12.1%), 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 Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches.
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.