Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0Gary’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Gary differs from Indiana on 28 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gary. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gary
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Gary
1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (7.3%), about twice the Indiana rate. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (25%), about twice the Indiana rate. COPD is also above the state: 13.3%, vs 8.1% across Indiana. In all, Gary runs above Indiana on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Gary
40.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 36.5% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Gary
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (26.1%), 3 times the Indiana rate. Food insecurity (42.3% vs 14.7%) and no reliable transportation (20% vs 7.7%) are higher too. 36.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Gary’s likely range.
What’s behind Gary’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gary is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Gary’s estimates fall in the lowest 6% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 25% of adults, against 13% across Indiana and 12% 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). Gary’s median household income is $38,731; among the 2,038 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Gary compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.7% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.2% (U.S. 77.4%).
Out of every 100 Gary adults…
Gary runs below IN on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gary adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36.2% of Gary adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Care in and near Gary
1 hospital and 4 community health centers in Gary, 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 Gary; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
49 miles of trails across 52 parks and preserves
How Gary adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Gary runs above Indiana.
4 in 10 Gary 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.
Gary and the towns around it
Gary’s Health Grade ranks 10th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary | D− | 51.9% | 25% | 25.6% | CDC place |
| Calumet Township | D− | 49.5% | 22.9% | 24.7% | ZIP codes |
| Lake Station | D | 40.5% | 14.5% | 21% | CDC place |
| North Township | D | 41.9% | 16.3% | 18.4% | ZIP codes |
| Hobart Township | C− | 39.3% | 14% | 18.9% | ZIP codes |
| Ross | — | — | — | — | |
| Hammond | D | 43.2% | 16.2% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| East Chicago | D− | 47% | 20.2% | 21.1% | CDC place |
Ross: no CDC estimate of its own. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gary adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gary
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gary is better than Indiana on 5 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Gary’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gary | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 37.5%34.7–40.3 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.9–21.7 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.7%18.8–22.7 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 51.9%47.8–55.9 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 25%22.9–27.2 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 52.6%49.8–55.4 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%33.5–39.1 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.9%31.4–36.3 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.4%12.9–15.9 | 11.2% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%9–10.8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.3%12.1–14.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.3%6.8–7.8 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 36.5%32.7–40.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.6%23.1–28.2 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 40.9%37.5–44.4 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%10.1–13.6 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 53.3%50–56.6 | 37.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%11.5–14.7 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.2%81–85.3 | 79.7% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 40.1%37.4–42.8 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%83.5–86.6 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.9%79.9–83.7 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.7%61.3–68 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%73.3–82 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.4%17.2–21.8 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%33.1–39.9 | 32.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.7%30.6–37.1 | 23.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 42.3%39.2–45.5 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.6%26–31.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 26.1%23.8–28.7 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20%18.2–22 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.2%33.2–39.3 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.6%39.3–45.9 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 27%24.8–29.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.3%18.5–22.3 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 12.5%11.6–13.4 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.4%14–16.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.7%9–10.5 | 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 Gary
Is Gary a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gary is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gary?
CDC estimates 51.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 47.8% and 55.9%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Gary?
Methodist Hospitals in Gary, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Gary’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Gary have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–14.7%), 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 Gary more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gary.
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.