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Lafayette-courthouse-square-NW-tn1Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
DHealth Grade
Health in Lafayette · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Lafayette is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns

Lafayette trails Tennessee on 14 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lafayette. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Lafayette

Dental care lags in Lafayette

46.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 58.1% across Tennessee. Among those 65 and older, 30.1% have lost all their teeth (Tennessee 14.6%). Checkups ↓

Lafayette is in the bottom 7% of U.S. towns for health

On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Lafayette is healthier than only 7% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Lafayette

22.3% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 16.2% across Tennessee. No reliable transportation (11.8% vs 8.9%) is higher too. 21.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% 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 Tennessee figure falls outside Lafayette’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.

Health Grade

What’s behind Lafayette’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lafayette is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns, #131 of 176 in Tennessee. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 22% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).

DSelf-rated health27.2% · TN 22.4% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress17.2% · TN 14.9% · U.S. 13%
D−Mental distress21.8% · TN 19.3% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity42.1% · TN 37.6% · U.S. 32.9%
C−Diabetes14.1% · TN 13.6% · U.S. 12%
DSmoking21.3% smoke · TN 17.3% · U.S. 11.8%
C−Exercise31.9% · TN 26.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 7%
Less healthyHealthier
Tennessee towns we grade (176)Healthier than 25%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $39K–$65K (6,373)Healthier than 15%

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). Lafayette’s median household income is $51,736; among the 6,373 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Few Tennessee towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Lafayette is healthier than 25% of graded towns, against 7% nationally.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Lafayette could be anywhere from D− to C.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Lafayette adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Tennessee.

76%Yearly checkupTN 78%
47%Dentist visitTN 58%
83%Cholesterol checkTN 87%
58%Colon screeningTN 63%
70%MammogramTN 75%
75%Taking BP medsTN 76%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Lafayette 16% · Tennessee 1 in 9 (11.6%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 4
Lafayette adults worry about having enough food
22.3% · TN 16.2%
Worse than TN
1 in 6
Lafayette adults worry about keeping their housing
15.9% · TN 13.3%
Worse than TN
1 in 9
Lafayette adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.7% · TN 9.1%
Worse than TN
1 in 8
Lafayette adults lack reliable transportation
11.8% · TN 8.9%
Worse than TN

21.8% of Lafayette adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Tennessee.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Lafayette adults…

Lafayette runs above TN on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Lafayette adults have COPD
Tennessee: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 9.3–12.3%
Better than TNWorseAbout the sameTennessee
Why age matters in Lafayette

Only 12% of Lafayette residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Tennessee. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.

Residents 65 and older

Lafayette12%
Tennessee17%
Getting care

Care in and near Lafayette

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lafayette, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMacon Community HospitalLafayette · 0.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyHighpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint TH★★★★★ · 18.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careTennessee Department of HealthLafayette · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Macon Community Hospital
Lafayette · ★★★★★
ERRural critical accessIn Lafayette
0.9 mi
Tennessee Department of Health
3 sites · nearest in Lafayette
Sliding-scale feesIn Lafayette
Directions to nearest
8.9 mi
Hope Family Health Services
3 sites · nearest in Westmoreland
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
12.1 mi
Highpoint Health-Trousdale With Ascension Saint
Hartsville · not rated
ERRural critical access
18.6 mi
Highpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint TH
Carthage · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.3 mi
The Medical Center at Scottsville
Scottsville · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Lafayette itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Lafayette itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Lafayette itself

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 Lafayette; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Tennessee

Share of adults, with the Tennessee figure marked.

Get no exercise 31.9%TN 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 38.9%TN 38.2%
Binge drink 14.3%TN 14.6%
Smoke cigarettes 21.3%TN 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%
Lafayette, betterLafayette, worseAbout the sameTennessee
Where Lafayette gets moving

1.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Lafayette adults are doing

On 1 of 3 measures, Lafayette runs above Tennessee.

3 in 10Lafayette adults lack social or emotional support
28.8% · TN 27.2% · About the same as TN
3 in 10Lafayette adults have been diagnosed with depression
30.6% · TN 28.4% · About the same as TN
1 in 5Lafayette adults are in frequent mental distress
21.8% · TN 19.3% · Worse than TN
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Lafayette and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
LafayetteD42.1%14.1%21.3%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

41%

of Lafayette adults live with a disability (Tennessee 35.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs18.9%
Thinking or memory21.2%
Hearing9%
Errands alone11.8%
Vision6.7%
Dressing or bathing4.8%
Tennessee

Every CDC estimate for Lafayette

Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lafayette is better than Tennessee on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Tennessee figure falls inside Lafayette’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…LafayetteTNU.S.vs TN
Overall health
Fair or poor health27.2%23.7–30.922.4%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)17.2%15.1–19.414.9%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)21.8%19.5–24.319.3%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity42.1%34.1–50.337.6%32.9%About the same
Diabetes14.1%12.3–16.113.6%12%About the same
High blood pressure38.3%34.2–42.439.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.3%34–42.538.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.5%28.3–34.830.6%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.3%10–12.711%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.4%7.6–9.38.2%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.8%6.9–8.87%6.4%About the same
COPD10.7%9.3–12.38.6%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.1%3.7–4.63.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)30.1%25.3–35.414.6%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes21.3%18.4–24.617.3%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work31.9%27.1–36.826.6%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking14.3%11.6–17.314.6%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours38.9%31.6–46.538.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)16%13.2–18.911.6%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year76%72.1–79.678.1%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year46.6%42.5–50.658.1%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years83.3%81–85.586.6%87.1%Worse
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)75.1%72.3–77.776.2%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)57.7%51.7–63.263.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)69.5%60.2–77.575.2%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression30.6%26.5–34.928.4%20.6%About the same
Lack social and emotional support28.8%25.1–32.227.2%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food22.3%20.2–24.416.2%15%Worse
Worried about keeping housing15.9%14.2–17.713.3%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off10.7%9.5–12.19.1%7.6%Worse
Lack reliable transportation11.8%10.7–12.88.9%7.9%Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)21.8%19.6–2414.3%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability41%36.3–45.835.8%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs18.9%16.4–21.616.3%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering21.2%18.7–23.717.4%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty9%8–10.17.6%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty6.7%5.9–7.55.5%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone11.8%10.3–13.49.5%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.8%4.2–5.54.1%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 Tennessee figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Lafayette

Is Lafayette a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lafayette is healthier than 7% of U.S. towns: D for health, #131 of 176 in Tennessee. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Lafayette?

CDC estimates 42.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 50.3%, against 37.6% across Tennessee and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Lafayette?

Macon Community Hospital in Lafayette, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Lafayette’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Lafayette have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 16% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.2–18.9%), against 11.6% across Tennessee.

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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Tennessee 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.