Photo: Sea Cow · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, East Chicago is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
East Chicago differs from Indiana on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Chicago. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Chicago
Making ends meet is harder in East Chicago
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (39.5%), more than twice the Indiana rate. Utility shut-off threats (21% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (27.5% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 27.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More East Chicago adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (40.3%), vs 24.9% across Indiana. There are 11 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in East Chicago
41.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 28.4% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
East Chicago has a top-rated hospital
St. Catherine Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 East Chicago’s likely range.
What’s behind East Chicago’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Chicago is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #584 of 589 in Indiana. All seven of East Chicago’s estimates fall in the lowest 14% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 47% of adults, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
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). East Chicago’s median household income is $42,125; among the 3,083 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 9%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where East Chicago compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.3% of East Chicago adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of East Chicago adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Care in and near East Chicago
1 hospital and 4 community health centers in East Chicago, 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 East Chicago; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 East Chicago adults…
East Chicago runs below IN on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
How East Chicago adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, East Chicago runs above Indiana.
4 in 10 East Chicago 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.
East Chicago and the towns around it
East Chicago’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Chicago | D− | 47% | 20.2% | 21.1% | CDC place |
| North Township | D | 41.9% | 16.3% | 18.4% | ZIP codes |
| Hammond | D | 43.2% | 16.2% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Calumet Township | D− | 49.5% | 22.9% | 24.7% | ZIP codes |
| Gary | D− | 51.9% | 25% | 25.6% | CDC place |
| Whiting | D | 41.3% | 15.5% | 19.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Chicago adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Chicago
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Chicago is better than Indiana on 4 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside East Chicago’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Chicago | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 35.6%32.8–38.5 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.8–20.5 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.7–21.4 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47%43–51 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.2%18.3–22.2 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.4%38.7–44.1 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31.7–37.1 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.3%24.2–28.5 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%7–8.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.2%8.3–10.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.4%25.1–31.7 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.1%18.9–23.5 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.3%36.7–43.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%12.3–16.5 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48.7%45.3–51.9 | 37.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 21.9%19.3–24.4 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%75.5–80.8 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 41.1%38.4–43.7 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%80.6–84.3 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.7–79.2 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%56.3–63.5 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%70.6–80.1 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19%16.8–21.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%32.9–39.9 | 32.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.5%29.2–35.8 | 23.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 39.5%36.2–43 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.5%24.8–30.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 21%18.9–23.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.8%16.1–19.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.3%24.6–30.2 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.8%36.5–43.1 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.8%19.8–23.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%18.4–22.4 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 11.3%10.4–12.3 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.5–14 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 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 East Chicago
Is East Chicago a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Chicago is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #584 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 9%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Chicago?
CDC estimates 47% of adults have obesity, likely between 43% and 51%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Chicago?
St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, 0.1 miles in a straight line from East Chicago’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Chicago have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 21.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 19.3–24.4%), 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 East Chicago more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in East Chicago.
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.