Ibach House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWithin Indiana, Highland is healthier than 79% of graded towns
Highland beats Indiana on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Highland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Highland
Highland looks healthier next to Indiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 79% of the 589 Indiana towns we grade, but 56% of towns nationwide. Much of Indiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Highland
Grades next door run from Munster (A−) to Gary (D−). Highland is a B. Around town ↓
Highland has a community health center but no hospital
219 Health Network is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Community Hospital in Munster, 2.6 miles away. 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 Highland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Highland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Highland is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #123 of 589 in Indiana. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 68% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Highland’s median household income is $78,062; among the 10,828 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.
Highland and the towns around it
Highland’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland | B | 36% | 12.6% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Hammond | D | 43.2% | 16.2% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Calumet Township | D− | 49.5% | 22.9% | 24.7% | ZIP codes |
| North Township | D | 41.9% | 16.3% | 18.4% | ZIP codes |
| Griffith | B− | 37.5% | 11.8% | 15.2% | CDC place |
| Munster | A− | 33.1% | 12.2% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Gary | D− | 51.9% | 25% | 25.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Highland
1 community health center in Highland, 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 Highland; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Highland adults…
Highland runs below IN on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
8.2 miles of trails across 24 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Highland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Highland adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Highland does better than Indiana.
3 in 10 Highland 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.1% of Highland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Highland adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Highland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Highland is better than Indiana on 4 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Highland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Highland | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.4%17.4–21.4 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.2–15.1 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.3–17.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%32.4–39.8 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%11.2–14 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%33.2–38.5 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.5%32.7–38.3 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.1%25.8–30.3 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.9–12.2 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–9.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%10.1–13.7 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.9–16.5 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%20.8–26.2 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.8–20.7 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%36.4–42.7 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7.3–9.7 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%76.7–81.7 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.6%60–65.2 | 61.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%86.5–89.3 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.8–80.7 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.5%67.3–73.5 | 66.3% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%73.9–82.6 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%18.6–23.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 30.2%27.2–33.6 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%20.9–26.2 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.4%11.7–15.2 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%6.1–8.3 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%25.6–31.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.7%12.1–15.2 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.3%11.8–14.7 | 15% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Highland
Is Highland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Highland is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #123 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Highland?
CDC estimates 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 39.8%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Highland?
Community Hospital in Munster, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Highland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Highland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–9.7%), 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 Highland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Highland.
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.