Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ruston is healthier than 84%
Ruston differs from Louisiana on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ruston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ruston
Ruston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ruston is healthier than 17%. Against the 689 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 84%. Health Grade ↓
Ruston looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 66% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 17% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ruston
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (29.8%), vs 22.5% across Louisiana. No reliable transportation (17.2% vs 11.3%) and utility shut-off threats (17.2% vs 12.4%) are higher too. 28.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 19% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Ruston
Ruston runs below Louisiana on five chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.2% vs 7.5%), arthritis (22.9% vs 29.7%) and heart disease (6.1% vs 7.5%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Louisiana 17%). 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 Ruston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Ruston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ruston is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #56 of 161 in Louisiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 39% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Ruston’s median household income is $31,120; among the 689 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 84%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Louisiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Ruston is healthier than 66% of graded towns, against 17% nationally.
Where Ruston compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.6% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (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.
28.4% of Ruston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Ruston adults…
Ruston runs below LA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Ruston residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Louisiana. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Ruston
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Ruston, 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 Ruston; ≈ 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.
7.3 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ruston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Ruston adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ruston runs above Louisiana.
2 in 5 Ruston 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.
Ruston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ruston adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ruston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ruston is better than Louisiana on 7 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Ruston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ruston | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26%23.4–29.2 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.2–16.8 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.4%21.1–26.2 | 19.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.2%35.3–50.1 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 15.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%32.9–40.4 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%28.2–35.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 22.9%20.5–25.8 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7.8%7–8.7 | 8.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.2%17.9–24.8 | 18.1% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%14.2–18.6 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.3%27.2–36.3 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.7–21.3 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.2%35.8–48.7 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.5–10.5 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75.3–82.5 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.6%49.7–57.3 | 57.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.1%75.5–80.7 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71%68.8–73.3 | 78.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.8%59.5–69.6 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%69–83 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.5%25.7–34.1 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.4%34.1–44.6 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%24.8–32.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.8%26.6–33.2 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.8%18.4–23.4 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.2%15.3–19.3 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.2%15.2–19.2 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28.4%25.6–31.4 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.6%37.4–46.8 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.2%14.5–18.1 | 17.6% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.1%20.8–25.8 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.3%7.6–9.1 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.4%12–14.9 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5.1–6.1 | 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 Ruston
Is Ruston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ruston is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #56 of 161 in Louisiana. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ruston?
CDC estimates 42.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.3% and 50.1%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ruston?
Northern Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Ruston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ruston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.5%), 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 Ruston 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 Ruston.
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.