Photo: Yahala · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Bloomington is healthier than 95%
Bloomington differs from Indiana on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bloomington. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bloomington
Bloomington is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bloomington is healthier than 66%. Against the 5,946 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 95%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Bloomington
22.4% of adults are in frequent mental distress, vs 17.6% across Indiana. Loneliness is above the state too: 40.2%, vs 32.8% across Indiana. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Bloomington
1 in 8 adults lack reliable transportation (12.2%), vs 7.7% across Indiana. Food insecurity (19.9% vs 14.7%) and utility shut-off threats (10.4% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 13.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Bloomington looks healthier next to Indiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 87% of the 589 Indiana towns we grade, but 66% of towns nationwide. Much of Indiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in Bloomington
Bloomington runs below Indiana on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.1% vs 8.3%), diabetes (8% vs 13%) and stroke (2.2% vs 3.5%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Indiana 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Indiana figure falls outside Bloomington’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Bloomington’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bloomington is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #78 of 589 in Indiana. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Bloomington’s median household income is $50,465; among the 5,946 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 95%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Indiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Bloomington is healthier than 87% of graded towns, against 66% nationally.
How Bloomington adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Bloomington runs above Indiana.
2 in 5 Bloomington adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.3% of Bloomington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Out of every 100 Bloomington adults…
Bloomington runs below IN on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Bloomington residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Indiana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Bloomington
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Bloomington, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Bloomington; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
34 miles of trails across 27 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bloomington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Bloomington and the towns around it
Bloomington has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | B+ | 33% | 8% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Richland Township | B | 35.6% | 10.6% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Bloomington Township | B | 33.7% | 9% | 13.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bloomington adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bloomington
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bloomington is better than Indiana on 10 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Bloomington’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bloomington | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%17.6–22.3 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 13.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.4%20.1–24.7 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%27.7–38.5 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8%7–9.1 | 13% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.1%23.1–29 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.7%27.6–33.9 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.9%15.9–19.9 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.3–13 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.7–5.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.4 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.9–15.7 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%11.1–14.5 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.5%19.2–26 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.2–21.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.9%29.3–39.2 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.6–10.1 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76%72.4–79.3 | 79.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%50.8–57.4 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.1%72.6–77.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.9%62.4–67.3 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%62.3–71.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%68.3–81.5 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.5%25.8–33.2 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.2%35–45.1 | 32.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%19–25.7 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.9%17.2–22.5 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.5%10.7–14.3 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.4%9–11.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.2%10.9–13.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.3%11.4–15.1 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.8%28.1–35.5 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.6%8.4–10.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.7%17.7–21.7 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–5.9 | 5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.8–3.3 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Indiana figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bloomington
Is Bloomington a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bloomington is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #78 of 589 in Indiana. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bloomington?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 38.5%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bloomington?
Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital in Bloomington, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Bloomington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bloomington have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–10.1%), against 8.9% across Indiana.
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 Bloomington more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bloomington.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Indiana 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.