Photo: Emmmmh · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Muncie is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Muncie differs from Indiana on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Muncie. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Muncie
Making ends meet is harder in Muncie
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.2%), vs 14.7% across Indiana. No reliable transportation (13.6% vs 7.7%) and utility shut-off threats (13.3% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 18.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Muncie
51.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 22.5% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
Mental distress runs high in Muncie
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.2%), vs 17.6% across Indiana. Depression is above the state too: 31.4%, vs 25.1% across Indiana. Mind & connection ↓
Health varies a lot right around Muncie
Grades next door run from Yorktown (B+) to Monroe Township (D−). Muncie is a D. Around town ↓
Muncie is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Muncie is healthier than 13%. Against the 3,808 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$56K), it’s healthier than 47%. 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 Muncie’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Muncie’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Muncie is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #495 of 589 in Indiana. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 30% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Muncie’s median household income is $44,471; among the 3,808 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$56K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Where Muncie 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.
18.1% of Muncie adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Keeping up with care
Share of Muncie adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Muncie adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Muncie runs above Indiana.
4 in 10 Muncie 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.
Muncie and the towns around it
Muncie’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie | D | 38.8% | 13.9% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Yorktown | B+ | 33.3% | 12.3% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Center Township | D | 39.4% | 15.3% | 20.1% | ZIP codes |
| Monroe Township | D− | 42.2% | 18.1% | 24.1% | ZIP 47302 |
| Hamilton Township | C | 37.2% | 13% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Muncie adults…
Muncie runs below IN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Muncie
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Muncie, 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 Muncie; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
7 miles of trails across 26 parks and preserves
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Muncie adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Muncie
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Muncie is better than Indiana on 1 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Muncie’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Muncie | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.8%24–29.7 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.4–18 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.2%20.9–25.5 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%32.9–45 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.3–15.6 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.1%32.7–39.7 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%33.1–40.2 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.3%25.6–31.1 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.5–14.4 | 11.2% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.3–7.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.5%18.9–26 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.3%17–21.7 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%24.9–33 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%12.9–18.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%34.5–45.5 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%8.8–11.6 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.1–81.6 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.3%47.6–54.7 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.2%76.1–80.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.5%71.3–75.8 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59.4–68.7 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.6%65.1–79 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.4%27.7–35.3 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%32.4–41.7 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%20.9–27.5 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.2%21.5–27 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.3%14.3–18.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.3%11.8–14.9 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.6%12.2–15.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.1%15.9–20.3 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.9%34.8–43 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.8–18.5 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.4%19.3–23.5 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.7%11.5–14 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 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 Muncie
Is Muncie a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Muncie is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: D for health, #495 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Muncie?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 45%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Muncie?
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Muncie’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Muncie have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–11.6%), 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 Muncie 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 Muncie.
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.