Health · Independence
Independence, LA health
Independence differs from Louisiana on 12 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults facing food insecurity (28.6% vs 22.5%) and more adults facing housing insecurity (21.3% vs 16.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for IndependenceTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D−
Independence’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, and than 20% of towns with similar incomes.
DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressDMental distressD-ObesityDDiabetesDSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 4%
Less healthyHealthier
Louisiana towns we grade (261)Healthier than 33%
Towns with similar incomes, $30K–$50K (2,357)Healthier than 20%
Better than its income would suggest. Independence is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D−.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Independence 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 Independence 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. Independence 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 Independence 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
45.7% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
34.8% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
82.4% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
40.4% feel lonely
0 better4 close1 worse
Everyday needs
28.6% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
42.8% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
46 of every 100 Independence adults have high blood pressure
Louisiana: 43 in 100 · too close to call · margin 42.1–49.9%
Bars show Independence; the black tick is Louisiana. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Independence, betterIndependence, worseToo close to callLouisiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults
34.8% Independence
LA 30.3%
LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
41.3% Independence
LA 40.1%
LA 40.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16% Independence
LA 16.9%
LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
20.4% Independence
LA 17.3%
LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence 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 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Independence 10.5% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection
How Independence adults are doing
1 in 2Independence adults feel lonely
40.4% · Louisiana 36.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Independence adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.3% · Louisiana 26.6% · too close to call
1 in 3Independence adults lack social or emotional support
31.6% · Louisiana 28.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Independence adults are in frequent mental distress
21% · 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 3
Independence adults worry about having enough food
28.6% · LA 22.5% · worse
1 in 5
Independence adults worry about keeping their housing
21.3% · LA 16.8% · worse
1 in 6
Independence adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
15.6% · LA 12.4% · worse
1 in 7
Independence adults lack reliable transportation
14.1% · LA 11.3% · worse
26% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Disability
Living with a disability
42.8%
of Independence adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs21.9%
Thinking or memory20.5%
Hearing8.3%
Errands alone12.4%
Vision8.3%
Dressing or bathing6.4%
Black tick: Louisiana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Independence
1 community health center in Independence, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERLallie Kemp Medical CenterIndependence · 1.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSoutheast Community Health SystemsIndependence · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Southeast Community Health Systems
3 sites · nearest in Independence
Southeast Community Health Systems - IndependenceIndependence · 0.3 mi
Southeast Community Health Systems - Westminster GardensHammond · 9.7 mi
Southeast Community Health Systems - Albany LocationHammond · 11.4 mi
6.4 mi
Primary Care Providers for A Healthy Feliciana
3 sites · nearest in Loranger
Rkm Primary Care LorangerLoranger · 6.4 mi
Rkm Primary Care SpringfieldSpringfield · 14.4 mi
Rkm at Springfield Elementary SchoolSpringfield · 14.6 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careIndependence's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Tangipahoa Parish · need score 11 of 25
! Dental careIndependence's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Tangipahoa Parish · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthIndependence's county is a federal shortage area.Tangipahoa Parish · need score 18 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 Independence. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Independence
| Measure | Independence | Margin | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 46.1% | 42.1–49.9% | 42.6% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 39.1% | 35.2–43% | 38.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 45.7% | 39.3–51.8% | 40% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 33.6% | 30.4–36.9% | 29.7% | worse |
| Depression | 25.3% | 21.8–28.9% | 26.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21.8% | 18.2–25.7% | 18.1% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.2% | 9.8–12.6% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 17.9% | 15.8–20.1% | 15.2% | worse |
| COPD | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6% | 8.5% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.4% | 7.5–9.5% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Stroke | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7% | 4.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4% | 17.4–23.5% | 17.3% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16% | 13.3–18.8% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 34.8% | 30.1–39.7% | 30.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.3% | 35.4–47.2% | 40.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.4% | 79.4–85.2% | 81.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 52.4% | 48.6–56.4% | 57.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 86.2% | 84.2–88% | 86.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 69.7% | 64.9–73.9% | 66.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.8% | 69.3–82.9% | 79.3% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.8% | 77.2–82.1% | 78.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 8.6–12.7% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 40.4% | 35.3–45.4% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 31.6% | 27.4–35.8% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 21% | 18.6–23.3% | 19.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 29% | 25.5–32.7% | 24.4% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 17.2% | 15.1–19.4% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 28.6% | 24.5–32.3% | 22.5% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 21.3% | 18.3–24.1% | 16.8% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 15.6% | 13.5–17.7% | 12.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 14.1% | 12.2–16% | 11.3% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 26% | 22.3–29.5% | 19% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8% | 38.3–47.5% | 38% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 21.9% | 19.4–24.8% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 20.5% | 18–23% | 18.4% | |
| Hearing | 8.3% | 7.4–9.4% | 8% | |
| Vision | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2% | 6.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2% | 5.1% | |
| Errands alone | 12.4% | 10.9–13.9% | 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 Independence door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Louisiana figure falls inside it, we don't call Independence better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Independence 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.