Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Westwego is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Westwego trails Louisiana on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Westwego. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Westwego
Westwego is in the bottom 4% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Westwego is healthier than only 4% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Westwego looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 36% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 4% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Westwego
49.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 24.5% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓
COPD and heart disease run high in Westwego
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. In all, Westwego runs above Louisiana on three of 11 chronic conditions. 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 Westwego’s likely range.
What’s behind Westwego’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Westwego is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #103 of 161 in Louisiana. All seven of Westwego’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 44.4% 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). Westwego’s median household income is $46,261; among the 4,432 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 12%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Louisiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Westwego is healthier than 36% of graded towns, against 4% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Westwego adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Out of every 100 Westwego adults…
Westwego runs above LA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Westwego
No hospital or community health center in Westwego 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 Westwego; ≈ 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.
1.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Westwego adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
2 in 5 Westwego 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.
22.4% of Westwego adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Westwego and the towns around it
Westwego’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westwego | D− | 44.4% | 17.6% | 20.2% | CDC place |
| Bridge City | D− | 47.8% | 20.1% | 20.6% | CDC place |
| Marrero | D− | 46.1% | 20.1% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| New Orleans | C+ | 34% | 15.1% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Westwego adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Westwego
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Westwego is better than Louisiana on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Westwego’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Westwego | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.5%25.3–31.8 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.3–19.3 | 15.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.7–23.1 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.4%39.4–49.2 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.6–19.6 | 15.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45%41.6–48.3 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%35.9–42.6 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.5%29.6–35.4 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.6 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.5%20.7–28.4 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.2%17.4–23 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.9%30.8–39 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.8–18.8 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.6%38.3–47 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%9.1–12.7 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.4%79.7–84.9 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.8%46.5–53.2 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.1–87.7 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.5–82.3 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%57.5–66.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%69.4–81.5 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.6%24.3–30.8 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.9%34.9–42.9 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.5%26.2–32.9 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.1%22.9–29.4 | 22.5% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19%16.7–21.5 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.1%12.5–15.9 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.8%11.4–14.5 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.4%19.4–25.4 | 19% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%37–45 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.7%18.2–23.2 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.9%18.6–23.2 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7.2–8.8 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.2%10.8–13.6 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 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 Westwego
Is Westwego a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Westwego is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #103 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 12%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Westwego?
CDC estimates 44.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.4% and 49.2%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Westwego?
Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Westwego’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Westwego have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–12.7%), 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 Westwego 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 Westwego.
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.