Photo: James Brosher · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Dunkirk is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Dunkirk trails Indiana on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dunkirk. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dunkirk
Dunkirk is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dunkirk is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Dunkirk
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.8%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.5% across Indiana. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.7%, vs 6.8% across Indiana. In all, Dunkirk runs above Indiana on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Dunkirk
54.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 21.6% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Dunkirk is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Dunkirk is healthier than 6%. Against the 4,455 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 21%. Health Grade ↓
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 Dunkirk’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Dunkirk’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunkirk is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 17% 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). Dunkirk’s median household income is $46,339; among the 4,455 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Dunkirk adults…
Dunkirk runs above IN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dunkirk adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Care in and near Dunkirk
1 community health center in Dunkirk, 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 Dunkirk; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Dunkirk adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Dunkirk runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Dunkirk 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.
12.1% of Dunkirk adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Dunkirk and the towns around it
Dunkirk’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkirk | D | 44.7% | 15.4% | 21.5% | CDC place |
| Jackson Township | D | 44.5% | 16.9% | 21.7% | ZIP codes |
| Niles Township | C− | 39.7% | 15% | 18.8% | ZIP codes |
| Richland Township | D− | 45.3% | 17.3% | 22.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dunkirk adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dunkirk
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dunkirk is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Dunkirk’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dunkirk | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%22–29.4 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.1–19.5 | 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%36.6–52.7 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.4–17.6 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%38.3–46.6 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.4%37.1–45.7 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.3%29.9–36.8 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–10 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.8%10.2–13.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.6%17.8–25.5 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.5%18.2–25.1 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%26.3–36.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%12.8–18.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.3–45.4 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.6–12.1 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.5–82.1 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.9%51.1–58.4 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.2–85.9 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.6–81.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%58.9–68.9 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%65.7–80.5 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.4%23.6–31.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%28.3–38.1 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%19.9–27.1 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.9%14.8–21.7 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.4%10.4–14.7 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.7%8.3–11.3 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%7.9–10.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.1%9.7–14.8 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33.1–43.1 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.7%16.2–21.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16–21 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.7–7.4 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 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 Dunkirk
Is Dunkirk a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dunkirk is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health. 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 Dunkirk?
CDC estimates 44.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.6% and 52.7%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dunkirk?
Indiana University Health Jay in Portland, 12.6 miles in a straight line from Dunkirk’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dunkirk have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–12.1%), 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 Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk.
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.