Where Starks residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Starks, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Starks. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Starks
COPD, heart disease and depression run high in Starks
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.9%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.2%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. Depression is also above the state: 32.6%, vs 26.6% across Louisiana. In all, Starks runs above Louisiana on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Louisiana 17%), and COPD and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Starks
48.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 29.9% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓
More Starks adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (40.6%), vs 30.3% across Louisiana. Habits ↓
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 Starks’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Starks adults…
Starks runs above LA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Starks is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Louisiana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Starks as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Starks adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
Care in and near Starks
No hospital or community health center in Starks 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 Starks; ≈ 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).
How Starks adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Starks runs above Louisiana.
4 in 10 Starks 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.
25.5% of Starks adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Starks and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Starks adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Starks
Why doesn’t Starks have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Starks.
What hospital is closest to Starks?
Dequincy Memorial Hospital in Dequincy, 16.8 miles in a straight line from Starks’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Starks.
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. 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.