Photo: User:Kgmnmr · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Burns Harbor is healthier than 28%
Burns Harbor differs from Indiana on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Burns Harbor. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Burns Harbor
Against towns with similar incomes, Burns Harbor’s lead shrinks
Burns Harbor is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, but 28% of the 8,792 towns with similar household incomes ($74K–$123K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Stroke and heart disease are less common in Burns Harbor
Burns Harbor runs below Indiana on stroke (2.8% vs 3.5%), heart disease (5.5% vs 6.8%) and COPD (6.7% vs 8.1%). A young population is part of it: only 12% 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 Burns Harbor’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Burns Harbor’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Burns Harbor is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 70% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Burns Harbor’s median household income is $98,500; among the 8,792 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 28%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Burns Harbor adults…
Burns Harbor runs below IN on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Burns Harbor residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Indiana. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Burns Harbor
No hospital or community health center in Burns Harbor 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 Burns Harbor; ≈ 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Burns Harbor adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Burns Harbor adults are doing
About the same as Indiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Burns Harbor 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.
7% of Burns Harbor adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Burns Harbor and the towns around it
Burns Harbor’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burns Harbor | B− | 40.9% | 11.1% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Portage | C− | 42.6% | 13.8% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Westchester Township | B− | 39.5% | 12.2% | 14.4% | ZIP 46304 |
| Portage Township | C | 41.7% | 13.7% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Chesterton | B− | 39.5% | 12.3% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Dune Acres | — | — | — | — | |
| Liberty Township | B− | 39.3% | 12.1% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Porter | B− | 40.3% | 12.1% | 14.8% | CDC place |
Dune Acres: 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 Burns Harbor adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Burns Harbor
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Burns Harbor is better than Indiana on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Burns Harbor’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Burns Harbor | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%15.7–20.9 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.3–14.7 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.8–20.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%35.5–46.3 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.7–12.7 | 13% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 35.4%32–38.9 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%32.8–39.9 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.8%23–28.6 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.3–16.5 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%12.9–18.3 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.3%20.5–28.4 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%14.6–20.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.9%33.9–43.9 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.6–10.1 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.9–81.2 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%58.2–64.8 | 61.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.8–87.9 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.5%69.4–75.4 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.6%58.2–66.8 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%68–81.1 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.5–28.2 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%27.4–35.7 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.3–25.7 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%10.6–15.4 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.2–12.9 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%6.8–9.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6–8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%5.6–8.5 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.6%23.9–31.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.5%9.9–13.4 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.3–16 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6–7.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.7–3.5 | 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 Burns Harbor
Is Burns Harbor a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Burns Harbor is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Burns Harbor?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 46.3%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Burns Harbor?
Northwest Health - Porter in Valparaiso, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Burns Harbor’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Burns Harbor have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–10.1%), 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 Burns Harbor 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 Burns Harbor.
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.