Solomon Fowler Mansion · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Bristol is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Bristol trails Indiana on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bristol. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bristol
Making ends meet is harder in Bristol
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.4%), vs 14.7% across Indiana. Utility shut-off threats (10.7% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (14% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 12.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD and obesity run high in Bristol
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 45.4% of adults have obesity, vs 38.4% across Indiana. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Bristol
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.9%), 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 Bristol’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Bristol’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 40% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Bristol’s median household income is $77,188; among the 10,818 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$96K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.2% of Bristol adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Out of every 100 Bristol adults…
Bristol runs above IN on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Bristol
No hospital or community health center in Bristol itself. These are the nearest.
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 Bristol; ≈ 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 Bristol adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Bristol adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Bristol runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Bristol 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.
Bristol and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | D | 45.4% | 14.1% | 19.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bristol adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bristol
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bristol is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Bristol’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bristol | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.2%20.8–28.1 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.2–18.6 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.4%18–22.9 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.4%39.7–51.2 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.1%12.2–16.1 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%36.1–43.4 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%35.2–42.4 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26.5–32.5 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.7–13.5 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.2–8.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.4%8.7–12.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.5 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21%17.4–24.8 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%16.7–23.4 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.1%22.8–31.7 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.8–19.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%31.7–41.6 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%8.4–12.9 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%76.2–82 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.7%53.2–60.1 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%81–85.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%72.6–77.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%57.5–66.4 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%64.9–79.3 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.5%24.1–31 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%30.2–38.7 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.4–28.1 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.4%15.1–21.6 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14%11.8–16.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.1–12.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.2–10.9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.2%9.9–14.7 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%32.2–41.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%14.5–19.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16–21.2 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.7–11.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.1–5.5 | 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 Bristol
Is Bristol a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bristol is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bristol?
CDC estimates 45.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.7% and 51.2%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bristol?
Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Bristol’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bristol have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–12.9%), 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 Bristol 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 Bristol.
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.