Photo: Jim Plylar · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Louisiana, Zachary is healthier than 96% of graded towns
Zachary beats Louisiana on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Zachary. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Zachary
Zachary looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 96% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 70% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Zachary is an active town
Only 20.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 30.3% across Louisiana. Habits ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Zachary
Zachary runs below Louisiana on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.4% vs 8.5%), heart disease (5.1% vs 7.5%) and stroke (3.2% vs 4.3%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Zachary adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, 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 Zachary’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Zachary’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Zachary is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #7 of 161 in Louisiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 84% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Zachary’s median household income is $84,480; among the 10,442 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$106K), it’s healthier than 74%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Zachary adults…
Zachary runs below LA on 10 of 12 conditions. 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.
12.7% of Zachary adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Care in and near Zachary
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Zachary, 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 Zachary; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Zachary adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Zachary adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Zachary 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.
Zachary and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Zachary adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Zachary
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Zachary is better than Louisiana on 21 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Zachary’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Zachary | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.5%15.3–19.6 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 15.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.5–19.5 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%29.4–38.7 | 40% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 15.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 38.1%34.8–41.4 | 42.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%31.3–37.9 | 38.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 25.6%23–28.2 | 29.7% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%8.9–11.3 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6–7.3 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.2%8.2–12.4 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.5%10.7–14.4 | 17.3% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.7%17.7–23.8 | 30.3% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.5–21 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.8%36.4–45.3 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.9%5–7 | 8.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%79.3–84.6 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.8%62.6–68.8 | 57.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.7–90.6 | 86.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.2–79.6 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%65.1–73.3 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84.1%78.9–88.5 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%22.2–28.4 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%31.2–39.4 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.7%24.3–31.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16%13.8–18.6 | 22.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%12.3–16.4 | 16.8% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.2%8.8–11.7 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.7–10 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.7%10.8–14.8 | 19% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.8%26.4–33.2 | 38% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.6–13.7 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.4–16.9 | 18.4% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%4.1–5 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 10.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 5.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Zachary
Is Zachary a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Zachary is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #7 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Zachary?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.4% and 38.7%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Zachary?
Lane Regional Medical Center in Zachary, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Zachary’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Zachary have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–7%), 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 Zachary more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Zachary.
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.