Ruston, LA health
Ruston differs from Louisiana on 14 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (5.2% vs 7.5%) and fewer adults with arthritis (22.9% vs 29.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults without reliable transportation (17.2% vs 11.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for RustonHow Ruston 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Ruston adults…
Bars show Ruston; the black tick is Louisiana. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
LA 30.3%
LA 40.1%
LA 16.9%
LA 17.3%
Keeping up with care
Share of Ruston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Ruston adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
28.4% of Ruston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Living with a disability
of Ruston adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Louisiana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Ruston and the towns around it
Care nearby
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ruston. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Ruston
| Measure | Ruston | Margin | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.3% | 32.9–40.4% | 42.6% | better |
| High cholesterol | 31.6% | 28.2–35.7% | 38.3% | better |
| Obesity | 42.2% | 35.3–50.1% | 40% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 22.9% | 20.5–25.8% | 29.7% | better |
| Depression | 29.5% | 25.7–34.1% | 26.6% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 21.2% | 17.9–24.8% | 18.1% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7% | 7.5% | better |
| Diabetes | 12.8% | 11.3–14.5% | 15.2% | better |
| COPD | 7.8% | 7–8.7% | 8.5% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8% | 7.5% | better |
| Stroke | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2% | 4.3% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2% | 14.2–18.6% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 17.7% | 14.7–21.3% | 16.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 31.3% | 27.2–36.3% | 30.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.2% | 35.8–48.7% | 40.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.9% | 75.3–82.5% | 81.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 53.6% | 49.7–57.3% | 57.2% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 78.1% | 75.5–80.7% | 86.4% | worse |
| Colon screening | 64.8% | 59.5–69.6% | 66.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.6% | 69–83% | 79.3% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 71% | 68.8–73.3% | 78.8% | worse |
| No health insurance | 8.9% | 7.5–10.5% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 39.4% | 34.1–44.6% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 28.7% | 24.8–32.6% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 23.4% | 21.1–26.2% | 19.3% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 26% | 23.4–29.2% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.8% | 13.2–16.8% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 29.8% | 26.6–33.2% | 22.5% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 20.8% | 18.4–23.4% | 16.8% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3% | 12.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 17.2% | 15.2–19.2% | 11.3% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 28.4% | 25.6–31.4% | 19% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.6% | 37.4–46.8% | 38% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.2% | 14.5–18.1% | 17.6% | |
| Thinking or memory | 23.1% | 20.8–25.8% | 18.4% | |
| Hearing | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6% | 8% | |
| Vision | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1% | 6.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.5% | 5.1–6.1% | 5.1% | |
| Errands alone | 13.4% | 12–14.9% | 10.3% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.