Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Brazil is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Brazil trails Indiana on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brazil. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brazil
Brazil is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Brazil is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on mental distress, obesity and smoking. Health Grade ↓
More Brazil adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30%), vs 24.9% across Indiana. Habits ↓
Smoking is more common in Brazil
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.4%), vs 15.7% across Indiana. Habits ↓
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 Brazil’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Brazil’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brazil is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #538 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 23% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Brazil’s median household income is $52,055; among the 6,478 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Brazil adults…
Brazil runs above IN on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Brazil
1 hospital in Brazil, 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 Brazil; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Brazil adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Brazil adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Brazil runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Brazil 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.
11.1% of Brazil adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Brazil and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | D | 44.7% | 14.1% | 20.4% | CDC place |
| Brazil Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Knightsville | — | — | — | — | |
| Van Buren Township | C− | 43% | 14.3% | 18.4% | ZIP codes |
Brazil Township: not graded. Knightsville: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brazil adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brazil
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brazil is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Brazil’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brazil | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%21.3–27.9 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.3 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.8–22.4 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.7%36.4–52.9 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.1%12.3–16.1 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%36–44.3 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%35.2–43.9 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.4%28–34.6 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.6–13.5 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.3%9–11.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.2%21.4–29.9 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%17.5–23.4 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30%25–35.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%13.7–20.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%32–44.4 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8–11.6 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.2–82 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.6%53.1–60.6 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%81.2–85.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.2–78.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%60.8–70.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%67.8–81.9 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.3%24.2–32.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.3%30.2–40.7 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20.2–27.7 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.7%14.9–21 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%10.7–14.9 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.6%8.3–11.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%7.8–10.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.1%9.3–13.3 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.1%31.4–40.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.4–18.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16–20.4 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Brazil
Is Brazil a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brazil is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #538 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brazil?
CDC estimates 44.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.4% and 52.9%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brazil?
Ascension St. Vincent Clay in Brazil, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Brazil’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Brazil have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–11.6%), 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 Brazil more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Brazil.
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.