Chief Jean-Baptiste de Richardville House · Photo: Nancy.mccammon-hansen · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Fort Wayne as a whole is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns
Fort Wayne differs from Indiana on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Wayne. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Fort Wayne is healthier than 33%. Against the 9,289 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 50%. Health Grade ↓
Every town around Fort Wayne scores healthier
All seven graded neighbors are ahead of Fort Wayne’s C, from New Haven (C+) to Huntertown (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Fort Wayne
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.2%), vs 14.7% across Indiana. Utility shut-off threats (11.4% vs 8.4%) and no reliable transportation (10% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 12.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Fort Wayne has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 4 community health centers are inside Fort Wayne. St. Joseph Health System 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 Fort Wayne’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Fort Wayne’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Wayne is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns, #291 of 589 in Indiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 59% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Fort Wayne’s median household income is $61,422; among the 9,289 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Few Indiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Fort Wayne is healthier than 51% of graded towns, against 33% nationally.
At 275,203 residents, Fort Wayne is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Fort Wayne and the towns around it
Fort Wayne’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | C | 40.7% | 13.8% | 15.8% | CDC place |
| New Haven | C+ | 39.4% | 13% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Huntertown | A | 35.6% | 9.1% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Perry Township | A | 35.4% | 10% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| Eel River Township | B | 38.3% | 11.7% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
| St. Joseph Township | B | 38% | 12% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Milan Township | B | 37.9% | 12.1% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Washington Township | B− | 39.1% | 12.2% | 15% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.7% of Fort Wayne adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Care in and near Fort Wayne
4 hospitals and 4 community health centers in Fort Wayne.
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 Fort Wayne; ≈ 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 Fort Wayne adults…
Fort Wayne runs below IN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
82 miles of trails across 76 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Wayne adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Fort Wayne adults are doing
About the same as Indiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Fort Wayne 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fort Wayne adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Wayne
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Wayne is better than Indiana on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Fort Wayne’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Wayne | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.1%20.2–24.2 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.3–15 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.7–20.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.7%36.8–44.8 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.8%12.4–15.3 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%34.7–40.2 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%32.4–38.1 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%23.8–28.3 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.5–13 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.5–9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.6%15.7–21.7 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8%14.1–17.6 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25%22.4–27.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.5–19.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.2%32.3–40.2 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%76.4–81.6 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.2%55.1–61.1 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%82.2–85.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.7–78.4 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%61.6–69.5 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%67.2–79.5 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.5%23.8–29.5 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%30.1–37 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%21.6–27.1 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.2%17.3–21.3 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12.7–16 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.4%10.2–12.8 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%9–11.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.7%11.3–14.2 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.3%29.5–35.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%13–15.9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%15.2–18.3 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.5 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.6–6.5 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.7 | 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 Fort Wayne
Is Fort Wayne a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Wayne is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #291 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fort Wayne?
CDC estimates 40.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.8% and 44.8%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Wayne?
St. Joseph Health System in Fort Wayne, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Fort Wayne’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Fort Wayne have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–11.9%), 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 Fort Wayne more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fort Wayne.
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.