Health · Grambling
Grambling, LA health
Grambling differs from Louisiana on 21 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (2.6% vs 7.5%) and fewer adults with arthritis (17.7% vs 29.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults without reliable transportation (24.8% vs 11.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for GramblingTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Grambling’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Grambling is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns and 76% of Louisiana towns.
DSelf-rated healthBPhysical distressD-Mental distressD-ObesityBDiabetesBSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 24%
Less healthyHealthier
Louisiana towns we grade (261)Healthier than 76%
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Grambling could be anywhere from D to B.
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 Grambling 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. Grambling 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 Grambling 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
46.5% have obesity
8 better2 close2 worse
Habits
33.1% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
82% had a checkup
0 better4 close3 worse
Mind & connection
46.6% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
42% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
43.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Grambling adults…
36 of every 100 Grambling adults have high blood pressure
Louisiana: 43 in 100 · better · margin 31.6–40.5%
Bars show Grambling; the black tick is Louisiana. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Grambling, betterGrambling, worseToo close to callLouisiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults
33.1% Grambling
LA 30.3%
LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
49.3% Grambling
LA 40.1%
LA 40.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14% Grambling
LA 16.9%
LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
14% Grambling
LA 17.3%
LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Grambling 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
Grambling 9% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection
How Grambling adults are doing
1 in 2Grambling adults feel lonely
46.6% · Louisiana 36.6% · worse
1 in 4Grambling adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.1% · Louisiana 26.6% · too close to call
1 in 3Grambling adults lack social or emotional support
35.7% · Louisiana 28.6% · worse
1 in 4Grambling adults are in frequent mental distress
26.3% · Louisiana 19.3% · worse
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 2
Grambling adults worry about having enough food
42% · LA 22.5% · worse
1 in 3
Grambling adults worry about keeping their housing
30.1% · LA 16.8% · worse
1 in 4
Grambling adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
24% · LA 12.4% · worse
1 in 4
Grambling adults lack reliable transportation
24.8% · LA 11.3% · worse
39.2% of Grambling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Disability
Living with a disability
43.6%
of Grambling adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs14.8%
Thinking or memory25.9%
Hearing4.1%
Errands alone15.4%
Vision9.3%
Dressing or bathing5.5%
Black tick: Louisiana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Grambling
1 community health center in Grambling, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERNorthern Louisiana Medical CenterRuston · 4.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePhsc-Grambling Family Health CenterRuston · 1.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4 mi
Mercy Medical Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Ruston
Mercy DentalRuston · 4 mi
Mercy DentalRuston · 4 mi
Mercy Medical Health Center of Arcadia and Mercy Medicine of ArcadiaArcadia · 12.2 mi
Mercy Medical Health Center of Arcadia and Mercy Medicine of ArcadiaArcadia · 12.2 mi
Mercy Medical Health Center and Mercy Medicine PharmacyJonesboro · 20 mi
Mercy Medical Health Center and Mercy Medicine PharmacyJonesboro · 20 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careGrambling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Lincoln Parish · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careGrambling's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Lincoln Parish · need score 22 of 25
! Mental healthGrambling's county is a federal shortage area.Lincoln Parish · need score 20 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 Grambling. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Grambling
| Measure | Grambling | Margin | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.8% | 31.6–40.5% | 42.6% | better |
| High cholesterol | 25.1% | 21.9–28.8% | 38.3% | better |
| Obesity | 46.5% | 38.1–55.4% | 40% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 17.7% | 15.5–20.2% | 29.7% | better |
| Depression | 27.1% | 22.6–32% | 26.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 31.4% | 26.4–36.8% | 18.1% | worse |
| Asthma | 13.2% | 11.2–15.4% | 10.3% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 2.6% | 2.3–2.9% | 7.5% | better |
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 10.4–13.5% | 15.2% | better |
| COPD | 5.9% | 4.8–7.2% | 8.5% | better |
| Heart disease | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1% | 7.5% | better |
| Stroke | 3.5% | 3–3.9% | 4.3% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14% | 10.3–18.3% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14% | 11.3–17.3% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 33.1% | 25.3–42.1% | 30.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 49.3% | 42.4–56.3% | 40.1% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82% | 78.2–85.4% | 81.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 49.6% | 45.5–53.8% | 57.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 77.3% | 70.2–82.4% | 86.4% | worse |
| Colon screening | 67.4% | 62.4–72.1% | 66.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 79.5% | 72.3–85.5% | 79.3% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 63.8% | 61–66.6% | 78.8% | worse |
| No health insurance | 9% | 5.8–14.7% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 46.6% | 40–53.5% | 36.6% | worse |
| Lack emotional support | 35.7% | 29–42.7% | 28.6% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 26.3% | 20.8–31.1% | 19.3% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 27.7% | 21.4–35.7% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.5% | 10.8–16.4% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 42% | 30.4–53.8% | 22.5% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 30.1% | 22.1–38.1% | 16.8% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 24% | 18.3–29.1% | 12.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 24.8% | 18–31.9% | 11.3% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 39.2% | 27.6–51.2% | 19% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.6% | 34.9–52.4% | 38% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.8% | 12.3–17.8% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 25.9% | 19–33% | 18.4% | |
| Hearing | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7% | 8% | |
| Vision | 9.3% | 7.3–12.2% | 6.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.5% | 4.6–6.7% | 5.1% | |
| Errands alone | 15.4% | 11.1–20.7% | 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 Grambling door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Louisiana figure falls inside it, we don't call Grambling better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Grambling 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.