Photo: Publichall · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Elkhart is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Elkhart differs from Indiana on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elkhart. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elkhart
Making ends meet is harder in Elkhart
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.9%), vs 14.7% across Indiana. Housing insecurity (19.3% vs 11.2%) and utility shut-off threats (13.9% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 16.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Elkhart is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Elkhart is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, mental distress, obesity and diabetes. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Elkhart
51.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 23.1% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Elkhart has a top-rated hospital
Elkhart General 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 Elkhart’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Elkhart’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elkhart is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #552 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 21% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Elkhart’s median household income is $51,028; among the 6,136 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 19%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Elkhart compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.7% (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.
16.4% of Elkhart adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Keeping up with care
Share of Elkhart adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Care in and near Elkhart
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Elkhart, 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 Elkhart; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Elkhart adults…
Elkhart runs below IN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
How Elkhart adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Elkhart runs above Indiana.
4 in 10 Elkhart 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.
Elkhart and the towns around it
Elkhart’s Health Grade ranks 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart | D | 47.3% | 15.1% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Simonton Lake | C− | 44% | 15% | 17.6% | CDC place |
| Dunlap | C+ | 43% | 12.5% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Baugo Township | D | 45.6% | 14.8% | 18.3% | ZIP codes |
| Concord Township | D | 46.1% | 14.6% | 18.3% | ZIP codes |
| Washington Township | C− | 43.7% | 13.9% | 17.5% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elkhart adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elkhart
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elkhart is better than Indiana on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Elkhart’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elkhart | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.8%24.3–29.4 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.6–18 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%18.1–22.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 47.3%41.8–52.6 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.4–16.8 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%36–42.7 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.9–40.9 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.3–29.5 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.1 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.7–4.2 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.1%19.5–26.9 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%16.8–21 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%26.6–34 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13–18.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.2%34.1–44.4 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.2%14.3–18.1 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.9%75.7–81.7 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.7%48.2–55.2 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.4%80.3–84.2 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.3%71.6–76.7 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.6%54.8–64.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74%66.8–80.4 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%22–28.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%31.7–40.2 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.9–30.6 | 23.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.9%22.2–27.6 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.3%17.1–21.5 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.4–15.6 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.3%11.1–13.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.4%14.6–18.5 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%34.2–41.5 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.4%15.6–19.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17.5–21.1 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%7–8.2 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.6–11.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.9–5.7 | 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 Elkhart
Is Elkhart a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elkhart is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #552 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elkhart?
CDC estimates 47.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.8% and 52.6%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elkhart?
Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Elkhart’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elkhart have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.3–18.1%), 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 Elkhart 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 Elkhart.
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.