Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Merrillville is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Merrillville differs from Indiana on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merrillville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merrillville
Making ends meet is harder in Merrillville
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23%), vs 14.7% across Indiana. Utility shut-off threats (13.8% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (17.1% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 14.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Merrillville
53.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 21% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Diabetes and stroke run high in Merrillville
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.3%), vs 13% across Indiana. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.5% across Indiana. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Merrillville
Grades next door run from Winfield (A−) to Calumet Township (D−). Merrillville is a C−. Around town ↓
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 Merrillville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Merrillville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merrillville is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #417 of 589 in Indiana. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 42% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Merrillville’s median household income is $67,587; among the 10,287 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 20%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Merrillville compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7% (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.
14.9% of Merrillville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Keeping up with care
Share of Merrillville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Out of every 100 Merrillville adults…
Merrillville runs below IN on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Merrillville and the towns around it
Merrillville’s Health Grade ranks 10th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrillville | C− | 42.5% | 16.3% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Ross Township | C | 40.2% | 14.7% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Crown Point | B+ | 34.7% | 11.4% | 14.2% | CDC place |
| Hobart | C+ | 38% | 13.1% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Union Township | B− | 39.2% | 12.5% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Center Township | B+ | 34.9% | 11.3% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Calumet Township | D− | 49.5% | 22.9% | 24.7% | ZIP codes |
| Gary | D− | 51.9% | 25% | 25.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Merrillville
4 community health centers in Merrillville, 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 Merrillville; ≈ 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.
6 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Merrillville adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Merrillville runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Merrillville 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 Merrillville adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merrillville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merrillville is better than Indiana on 3 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Merrillville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merrillville | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.5%22.2–26.9 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.3–16.4 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.7–19.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.5%38.5–46.5 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.3%14.7–18 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.9%39.1–44.7 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%31.5–37.1 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 28.5%26.1–30.8 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.4%11.1–13.7 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.2%7.4–9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.3%4–4.7 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21%18.3–23.9 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%15.3–19.2 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%25.9–32.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%13–17.3 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46.8%43.5–50 | 37.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.8–83.5 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.7%51–56.5 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.8–88.7 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%77.2–81.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.1%65.9–72.2 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%75.2–83.4 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%16.9–21.4 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%30.3–37.1 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29%26–32.2 | 23.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23%20.6–25.8 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.1%15.1–19.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%9.8–12.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.9%13–17 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%29.1–35 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%15.2–18.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.6–16.8 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%6–7.1 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 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 Merrillville
Is Merrillville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merrillville is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #417 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 20%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merrillville?
CDC estimates 42.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.5% and 46.5%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merrillville?
St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, 4.2 miles in a straight line from Merrillville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Merrillville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–11.2%), 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 Merrillville 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 Merrillville.
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.