Where Start residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Start, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Start. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Start
Cancer runs high in Start
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. Conditions ↓
Fewer Start adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Louisiana. 1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 4 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Start’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Start adults…
Start runs below LA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. 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.
11.7% of Start adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Care in and near Start
No hospital or community health center in Start 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 Start; ≈ 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 Start adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Start adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Start 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.
Start 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 Start adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Start
Why doesn’t Start have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Start.
What hospital is closest to Start?
Richardson Medical Center in Rayville, 7.3 miles in a straight line from Start’s 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 Start.
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.