Health · Benton
Benton, LA health
On every measure CDC estimates, Benton looks like Louisiana as a whole: no difference is outside the margin of error.
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BentonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Benton’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Benton is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns.
DSelf-rated healthC-Physical distressDMental distressDObesityDDiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 8%
Less healthyHealthier
Louisiana towns we grade (261)Healthier than 49%
Towns with similar incomes, $44K–$73K (7,801)Healthier than 10%
About what its income would suggest. Benton does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Benton could be anywhere from D− to C.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Louisiana ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Benton with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Benton uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Benton compares with Louisiana
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
44.3% have obesity
0 better12 close0 worse
Habits
34.8% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
82.4% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
37.4% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
24.5% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
38.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Benton adults…
44 of every 100 Benton adults have high blood pressure
Louisiana: 43 in 100 · too close to call · margin 39.9–47.7%
Bars show Benton; the black tick is Louisiana. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Benton, betterBenton, worseToo close to callLouisiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults
34.8% Benton
LA 30.3%
LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
45.1% Benton
LA 40.1%
LA 40.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.7% Benton
LA 16.9%
LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.8% Benton
LA 17.3%
LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Benton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
Yearly checkup
LA 82%Dentist visit
LA 57%Cholesterol check
LA 86%Colon screening
LA 66%Mammogram
LA 79%Taking BP meds
LA 79%1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Benton 8.7% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection
How Benton adults are doing
1 in 3Benton adults feel lonely
37.4% · Louisiana 36.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Benton adults have been diagnosed with depression
26.6% · Louisiana 26.6% · too close to call
1 in 3Benton adults lack social or emotional support
29.9% · Louisiana 28.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Benton adults are in frequent mental distress
19.7% · Louisiana 19.3% · too close to call
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
Benton adults worry about having enough food
24.5% · LA 22.5% · about the same
1 in 5
Benton adults worry about keeping their housing
18.3% · LA 16.8% · about the same
1 in 7
Benton adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.7% · LA 12.4% · about the same
1 in 8
Benton adults lack reliable transportation
12.1% · LA 11.3% · about the same
21.4% of Benton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Disability
Living with a disability
38.2%
of Benton adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs18.6%
Thinking or memory18.9%
Hearing7.9%
Errands alone10.8%
Vision7.2%
Dressing or bathing5.5%
Black tick: Louisiana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Benton
No hospital or community health center in Benton itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest EROverton Brooks VA Medical Center (Shreveport)Shreveport · 13.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBossier Community Health CenterBossier City · 10.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
10.9 mi
David Raines Community Health Center
4 sites · nearest in Bossier City
David Raines Community Health Centers, Inc. - BossierBossier City · 10.9 mi
David Raines Community Health Center, Inc - GilliamGilliam · 11.3 mi
David Raines Community Health Center, Inc. - ShreveportShreveport · 11.8 mi
David Raines Community Health CenterShreveport · 17.3 mi
13.5 mi
Ochsner Lsu Health Shreveport-St. Mary Medical Cent
Shreveport · ★★★★★
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBenton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Bossier Parish · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careBenton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Bossier Parish · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthBenton's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Bossier Parish · need score 19 of 25
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 Benton. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Benton
| Measure | Benton | Margin | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 43.7% | 39.9–47.7% | 42.6% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.9% | 34–42% | 38.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 44.3% | 38–50.9% | 40% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3% | 27.2–33.5% | 29.7% | about the same |
| Depression | 26.6% | 23.1–30.4% | 26.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 20.2% | 16.7–23.9% | 18.1% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 16.2% | 14.2–18.2% | 15.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1% | 8.5% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Stroke | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2% | 4.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8% | 15.9–21.8% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.7% | 13–18.6% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 34.8% | 30.1–39.8% | 30.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.1% | 39–50.9% | 40.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.4% | 79.2–85.2% | 81.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 55.4% | 51.4–59.1% | 57.2% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 86.3% | 84.3–88.1% | 86.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68.9% | 64.3–73.1% | 66.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.7% | 70.7–83.5% | 79.3% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.7% | 77.2–82% | 78.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 8.7% | 7.1–10.4% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.4% | 32.3–42.3% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 29.9% | 25.6–34% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.7% | 17.5–22.1% | 19.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 26.2% | 23–29.6% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.9% | 14–17.9% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 24.5% | 20.5–28.3% | 22.5% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 18.3% | 15.4–21.1% | 16.8% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 13.7% | 11.7–15.7% | 12.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 12.1% | 10.4–13.8% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 21.4% | 17.7–24.9% | 19% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.2% | 33.8–42.8% | 38% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18.6% | 16.3–21% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.9% | 16.7–21.3% | 18.4% | |
| Hearing | 7.9% | 7–8.9% | 8% | |
| Vision | 7.2% | 6.4–8% | 6.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1% | 5.1% | |
| Errands alone | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2% | 10.3% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Benton door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Louisiana figure falls inside it, we don't call Benton better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Benton directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Louisiana figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.