Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Howe is healthier than 64%
Howe differs from Indiana on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Howe. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howe
Howe is short on primary care and mental health care
Howe’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
1 in 8 working-age adults in Howe has no health insurance
12% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.9% across Indiana. Checkups ↓
Howe is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Howe is healthier than 41%. Against the 8,989 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
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 Howe’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Howe’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howe is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 54% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Howe’s median household income is $60,238; among the 8,989 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Care in and near Howe
No hospital or community health center in Howe itself. These are the nearest.
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 Howe; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Howe adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Out of every 100 Howe adults…
On every condition, Howe is about the same as Indiana. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Howe adults are doing
About the same as Indiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Howe 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.
6.7% of Howe adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Howe and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howe | C+ | 40% | 12% | 16.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Howe adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Howe
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Howe is better than Indiana on 1 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Howe’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Howe | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.7%17.2–24.4 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.9–16 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%14.9–19.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40%32.1–48.2 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.2–13.8 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%31.8–40 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.9%33.6–42.4 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.4%23.3–29.8 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%6.9–8.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.7%6.3–9.3 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.7%14.6–21.2 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.8%13.7–20.1 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.7%21.1–30.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.1–21.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.3%28.8–42.2 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%9.4–14.9 | 8.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%72.4–80.3 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.2–61.6 | 61.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%81.9–87 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%71.9–78.1 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.7%63.9–73.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%70.8–84.5 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.7%20.1–27.5 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%28.5–39.1 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%21.4–29.6 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%11.1–16.8 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.2–13.2 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6–8.3 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6–8.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.7%5.2–8.4 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.4%26.6–36.5 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%11–15.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%13.1–17.8 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.9–5.3 | 5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.3–8.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4 | 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 Howe
Is Howe a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howe is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Howe?
CDC estimates 40% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.1% and 48.2%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Howe?
Parkview Lagrange Hospital in Lagrange, 5.4 miles in a straight line from Howe’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Howe have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–14.9%), 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 Howe more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Howe.
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.