Photo: Polka Dots and Pastries · CC BY 2.0Within Louisiana, Ponchatoula is healthier than 47% of graded towns
On every measure CDC estimates, Ponchatoula looks like Louisiana as a whole.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ponchatoula. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ponchatoula
Ponchatoula looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 47% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 8% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Ponchatoula is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Ponchatoula is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. 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 Ponchatoula’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Ponchatoula’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ponchatoula is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #86 of 161 in Louisiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 20% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Ponchatoula’s median household income is $51,161; among the 6,173 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Ponchatoula adults…
On every condition, Ponchatoula is about the same as Louisiana. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ponchatoula
No hospital or community health center in Ponchatoula 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 Ponchatoula; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ponchatoula adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Ponchatoula adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
2 in 5 Ponchatoula 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.
20.7% of Ponchatoula adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Ponchatoula and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponchatoula | D | 43.5% | 16.1% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Hammond | D | 43.3% | 15% | 17.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ponchatoula adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ponchatoula
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ponchatoula is better than Louisiana on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Ponchatoula’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ponchatoula | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.9%22.9–29 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| 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) | 20.2%18–22.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.5%37.3–49.8 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.1–18.1 | 15.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 43.4%39.5–47.3 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.7%34.7–42.6 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29.5–35.9 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.3–9 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 8.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5 | 4.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.6%17–24.7 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.4–21.6 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%27.2–36 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%14.7–20.6 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%32.5–43.9 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.6–10.6 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.5–84.3 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.3%54.5–61.9 | 57.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.5–87.9 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.6–81.5 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.6%63.7–73 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%71.5–84.3 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.6–29.7 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.2%33.4–43 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.3%24.8–31.9 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.1%20.2–26.2 | 22.5% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.3%15–19.5 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%11.2–14.4 | 12.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%10.4–13.2 | 11.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.7%18.1–23.4 | 19% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.2%35.9–44.6 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%17.5–22 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%17–21.4 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.5–7.8 | 6.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%9.9–12.3 | 10.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–6 | 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 Ponchatoula
Is Ponchatoula a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ponchatoula is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #86 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ponchatoula?
CDC estimates 43.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.3% and 49.8%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ponchatoula?
North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, 2.1 miles in a straight line from Ponchatoula’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ponchatoula have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–10.6%), 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 Ponchatoula 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 Ponchatoula.
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.