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≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Jefferson Township · CDC PLACES 2025

Within Indiana, Jefferson Township is healthier than 68% of graded towns

Jefferson Township differs from Indiana on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 46777, 46791. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Jefferson Township

Jefferson Township looks healthier next to Indiana than next to the country

It’s healthier than 68% of the 589 Indiana towns we grade, but 47% of towns nationwide. Much of Indiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓

Cancer runs high in Jefferson Township

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.7%), vs 8.3% across Indiana. Conditions ↓

Fewer Jefferson Township adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Indiana. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 7 adults 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 Jefferson Township’s likely range; Jefferson Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 46777, 46791, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Jefferson Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson Township is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #188 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 60% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 14%).

BSelf-rated health18.9% · IN 20.6% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.7% · IN 13.8% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress16.8% · IN 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity41.2% · IN 38.4% · U.S. 32.9%
C+Diabetes12.6% · IN 13% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking15.3% smoke · IN 15.7% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise24.2% · IN 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 47%
Less healthyHealthier
Indiana towns we grade (589)Healthier than 68%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $55K–$92K (10,817)Healthier than 53%

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). Jefferson Township’s median household income is $73,736; among the 10,817 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.

Where Jefferson Township compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6.8% (U.S. 11%); worried about having enough food, 11% (U.S. 15%); worried about keeping housing, 8.7% (U.S. 12%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Jefferson Township could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 46777,46791), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 9
Jefferson Township adults worry about having enough food
11% · IN 14.7%
Better than IN
1 in 11
Jefferson Township adults worry about keeping their housing
8.7% · IN 11.2%
Better than IN
1 in 16
Jefferson Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.3% · IN 8.4%
Better than IN
1 in 17
Jefferson Township adults lack reliable transportation
6% · IN 7.7%
Better than IN

6% of Jefferson Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Jefferson Township adults…

Jefferson Township runs above IN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Jefferson Township adults have had cancer
Indiana: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.8–10.7%
Better than INWorseAbout the sameIndiana
Getting care

Care in and near Jefferson Township

1 community health center in Jefferson Township, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERBluffton Regional Medical CenterBluffton · 9.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBluffton Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 9.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMeridian Health ServicesOssian · 1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1 mi
Meridian Health Services
6 sites · nearest in Ossian
Sliding-scale feesIn Jefferson Township
Directions to nearest
9.2 mi
Bluffton Regional Medical Center
Bluffton · ★★★★★
ER
11.2 mi
Alliance Health Centers- Charis House
Fort Wayne · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
12.7 mi
Lutheran Hospital of Indiana
Fort Wayne · ★★★★★
ER
12.7 mi
The Orthopaedic Hospital of Lutheran Health Networ
Ft Wayne · not rated
12.8 mi
Adams Memorial Hospital
Decatur · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careJefferson Township is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careJefferson Township is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Jefferson Township itself

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 Jefferson Township; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana

Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.

Get no exercise 24.2%IN 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 36.8%IN 37.1%
Binge drink 16%IN 16.6%
Smoke cigarettes 15.3%IN 15.7%
0%10%20%30%40%
Jefferson Township, betterJefferson Township, worseAbout the sameIndiana
Where Jefferson Township gets moving

2.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Jefferson Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.

80%Yearly checkupIN 80%
64%Dentist visitIN 61%
88%Cholesterol checkIN 86%
70%Colon screeningIN 66%
76%MammogramIN 76%
79%Taking BP medsIN 77%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Jefferson Township 6.8% · Indiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection

How Jefferson Township adults are doing

About the same as Indiana on each measure.

1 in 3Jefferson Township adults feel lonely
32% · IN 32.8% · About the same as IN
1 in 5Jefferson Township adults lack social or emotional support
21.4% · IN 23.2% · About the same as IN
1 in 4Jefferson Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.4% · IN 25.1% · About the same as IN
1 in 6Jefferson Township adults are in frequent mental distress
16.8% · IN 17.6% · About the same as IN
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Jefferson Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Jefferson Township and the towns around it

Jefferson Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 graded towns around it.

Preble Township: 41.4%Lancaster Township: 42.1%Pleasant Township: 40%Union Township: 40.4%Marion Township: 41.3%Kirkland Township: 41.4%Root Township: 41.4%Harrison Township: 42.2%Rockcreek Township: 41.6%Wayne Township: 42.6%Lafayette Township: 38.7%Union Township: 40.3%Adams Township: 43.5%Madison Township: 39.4%French Township: 41.5%Washington Township: 41.2%Jefferson Township: 41.2%Jefferson TownshipPreble TownshipLancaster TownshipPleasant TownshipUnion TownshipMarion TownshipKirkland TownshipBluffton Regional Medical Center · Bluffton · 9.2 mi · 4★ MedicareHLutheran Hospital of Indiana · Fort Wayne · 12.7 mi · 3★ MedicareHThe Orthopaedic Hospital of Lutheran Health Networ · Ft Wayne · 12.7 miHAdams Memorial Hospital · Decatur · 12.8 miHMeridian Health Services · Ossian · 1 mi+Alliance Health Centers- Charis House · Fort Wayne · 11.2 mi+
Healthier than INNear INLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#6 of 17 towns on this map, healthiest first
Pleasant Township40%
Union Township40.4%
Jefferson Township41.2%
Marion Township41.3%
Preble Township41.4%
Kirkland Township41.4%
Lancaster Township42.1%
IN38.4%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Jefferson TownshipB−41.2%12.6%15.3%ZIP codes
Lancaster TownshipC+42.1%12.9%16.5%ZIP codes
Preble TownshipC−41.4%14%17.8%ZIP codes
Pleasant TownshipC+40%13.7%14.8%ZIP codes
Union TownshipB−40.4%12.7%14.9%ZIP codes
Kirkland Township————
Marion TownshipC−41.3%15.7%17.1%ZIP codes

Kirkland Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

31.1%

of Jefferson Township adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.5%
Thinking or memory13.9%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone7.5%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.4%
Indiana

Every CDC estimate for Jefferson Township

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jefferson Township is better than Indiana on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Jefferson Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Jefferson TownshipINU.S.vs IN
Overall health
Fair or poor health18.9%16.1–21.820.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.7%11.9–15.513.8%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.8%14.7–18.817.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity41.2%33.2–49.138.4%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.6%10.8–14.513%12%About the same
High blood pressure39.3%34.9–43.637.8%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)39.1%34.6–43.637.8%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.8%28.2–35.428.3%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.9%9.6–12.311.2%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.7%8.8–10.78.3%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.2%6.4–86.8%6.4%About the same
COPD8.1%7–9.28.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.5%3.1–3.83.5%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)13%10.5–15.715.4%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.3%12.8–17.915.7%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work24.2%19.9–28.824.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking16%13.1–19.216.6%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours36.8%30.5–43.437.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.8%5.6–8.38.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year80.3%76.8–83.479.7%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.4%60.8–67.861.2%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.6%85.7–89.285.8%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79.1%76.2–81.677.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)70.3%65.5–74.666.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)75.6%68.1–8276.4%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.4%21.7–29.325.1%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32%27–37.332.8%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.4%18–25.223.2%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food11%8.9–13.214.7%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing8.7%7.2–10.311.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.3%5.3–7.48.4%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6%5.1–77.7%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)6%4.8–7.38.6%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability31.1%26.6–35.431.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.5%12.3–16.614.2%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.9%12–15.715%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.6%6.8–8.67.1%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.3%3.9–4.85%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone7.5%6.6–8.58.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.4%3–3.83.7%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 Jefferson Township

Is Jefferson Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jefferson Township is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #188 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 53%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Jefferson Township?

CDC estimates 41.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.2% and 49.1%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Jefferson Township?

Bluffton Regional Medical Center in Bluffton, 9.2 miles in a straight line from Jefferson Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Jefferson Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.3%), 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 Jefferson Township 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 Jefferson Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.