Photo: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Oberlin is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Oberlin trails Louisiana on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oberlin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oberlin
Oberlin is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Oberlin is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Oberlin
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.4%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 18 adults have had a stroke (5.7%), vs 4.3% across Louisiana. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.6%, vs 7.5% across Louisiana. In all, Oberlin runs above Louisiana on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Oberlin
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (29.6%), vs 22.5% across Louisiana. No reliable transportation (14.2% vs 11.3%) and utility shut-off threats (15.5% vs 12.4%) are higher too. 25.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Oberlin is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Oberlin is healthier than 2%. Against the 752 towns with similar household incomes ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 28%. 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 Oberlin’s likely range.
What’s behind Oberlin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oberlin is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Oberlin’s estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 46.2% 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). Oberlin’s median household income is $31,738; among the 752 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Oberlin adults…
Oberlin runs above LA on 7 of 12 conditions. 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.
25.8% of Oberlin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Care in and near Oberlin
1 community health center in Oberlin, 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 Oberlin; ≈ 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oberlin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Oberlin adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
4 in 10 Oberlin 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.
Oberlin and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin | D− | 46.2% | 19% | 21% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oberlin adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oberlin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oberlin is better than Louisiana on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Oberlin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oberlin | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.7%26.7–34.8 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.1–20.9 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%17.9–22.7 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.2%37.7–54.3 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19%16.5–21.5 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.7%45–53.9 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.5%36.8–45.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.4%30.6–37.9 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.6–12.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.2–8.9 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.4–10.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.4%9.8–13.3 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.7%18.8–26.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21%17.7–24.3 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.8%32–43.5 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.2–18 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%33.6–47.4 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.5%9.3–14.1 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%79.1–85.3 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.4%48.4–56.3 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.6%83.4–87.5 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%78.3–83 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%59.5–70.1 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.9%73.1–85.6 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.5%22.5–30.5 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.7%31.6–42.1 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27.3–35.8 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.6%25.6–34 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.6%17.9–23.7 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.5%13.6–17.7 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.8%22.1–29.9 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.6%39.1–49.9 | 38% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23%19.9–26.3 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21%18.4–23.6 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.5%8.3–10.7 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.8%11.2–14.5 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.1–7.9 | 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 Oberlin
Is Oberlin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oberlin is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oberlin?
CDC estimates 46.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.7% and 54.3%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oberlin?
Allen Parish Hospital in Kinder, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Oberlin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Oberlin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–14.1%), 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 Oberlin 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 Oberlin.
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.