Photo: HammondMan · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Hammond is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Hammond differs from Indiana on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hammond. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hammond
Making ends meet is harder in Hammond
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (28.7%), about twice the Indiana rate. Utility shut-off threats (15.5% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (20.5% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 18.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Hammond
49% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 23.4% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Hammond is in the bottom 8% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Hammond is healthier than only 8% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on five of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Hammond
Grades next door run from Munster (A−) to Gary (D−). Hammond is a D. Around town ↓
Cancer and depression are less common in Hammond
Hammond runs below Indiana on cancer (6.1% vs 8.3%) and depression (20.4% vs 25.1%). Conditions ↓
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 Hammond’s likely range.
What’s behind Hammond’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hammond is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #556 of 589 in Indiana. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 21% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Hammond’s median household income is $55,504; among the 7,575 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 12%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Hammond compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 33.8% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.1% (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.
18.4% of Hammond adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Keeping up with care
Share of Hammond adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Hammond and the towns around it
Hammond’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond | D | 43.2% | 16.2% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Highland | B | 36% | 12.6% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Munster | A− | 33.1% | 12.2% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| North Township | D | 41.9% | 16.3% | 18.4% | ZIP codes |
| East Chicago | D− | 47% | 20.2% | 21.1% | CDC place |
| Whiting | D | 41.3% | 15.5% | 19.4% | CDC place |
| Gary | D− | 51.9% | 25% | 25.6% | CDC place |
| Calumet Township | D− | 49.5% | 22.9% | 24.7% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Hammond adults…
Hammond runs below IN on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Hammond
4 community health centers in Hammond, 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 Hammond; ≈ 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.
14 miles of trails across 39 parks and preserves
How Hammond adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Hammond runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Hammond 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 Hammond adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hammond
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hammond is better than Indiana on 4 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Hammond’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hammond | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.6%26.2–31.1 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%15–18.3 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%17–20.7 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.2%39.3–47.2 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.2%14.6–17.9 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.1%35.3–40.8 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%31.2–36.6 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26%23.9–28.2 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.6–13 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.6–6.7 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%8–9.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.4%20.5–26.3 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%17.7–21.9 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33%29.8–36.3 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.6%14.3–19.1 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.9%42.6–49.2 | 37.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.3%14.4–18.3 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74.9–80.2 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49%46.3–51.8 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%82–85.3 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%73.4–78.3 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.6%59.2–65.9 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%71.2–80.5 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%18.1–22.9 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 34.2%31–37.6 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.2%26.3–32.2 | 23.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.7%26.1–31.3 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.5%18.3–22.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.5%13.9–17.3 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.2%11.9–14.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.4%16.5–20.6 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.8%31.7–37.9 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.8–19.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%16.2–19.7 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.3–7.8 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%7.4–8.7 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%5.1–6 | 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 Hammond
Is Hammond a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hammond is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #556 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 12%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hammond?
CDC estimates 43.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.3% and 47.2%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hammond?
St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Hammond’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hammond have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.4–18.3%), 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 Hammond 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 Hammond.
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.