Photo: Public domain · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Notre Dame is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Notre Dame differs from Indiana on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Notre Dame. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Notre Dame
Mental distress runs high in Notre Dame
3 in 10 adults are in frequent mental distress (28%), vs 17.6% across Indiana. Loneliness is above the state too: 46.8%, vs 32.8% across Indiana. Mind & connection ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in Notre Dame
Notre Dame runs below Indiana on nine chronic conditions, most of all cancer (1.3% vs 8.3%), diabetes (2.4% vs 13%) and arthritis (6% vs 28.3%). A young population is part of it: only 1% of residents are 65 or older (Indiana 17%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Notre Dame doesn’t win on
22.1% of adults binge drink, vs 16.6% across Indiana, even though fewer of them smoke. Habits ↓
Notre Dame is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Notre Dame is healthier than 84%. Against the 68 towns with similar household incomes ($15K–$25K), it’s healthier than 100%. Health Grade ↓
Notre Dame is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A− tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Clay Township (B+). 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 Notre Dame’s likely range.
What’s behind Notre Dame’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Notre Dame is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #19 of 589 in Indiana. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); 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). Notre Dame’s median household income is $19,886; among the 68 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($15K–$25K), it’s healthier than 100%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Notre Dame adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Notre Dame runs above Indiana.
5 in 10 Notre Dame 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.
Out of every 100 Notre Dame adults…
Notre Dame runs below IN on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 1% of Notre Dame residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Indiana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
1.9 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Notre Dame and the towns around it
Notre Dame has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | A− | 24.7% | 2.4% | 8.2% | CDC place |
| South Bend | D | 39.7% | 15.2% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| Portage Township | D | 39.2% | 15.2% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| Clay Township | B+ | 32.3% | 11.4% | 12.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Notre Dame
No hospital or community health center in Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame; ≈ 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 Notre Dame adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Notre Dame adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Notre Dame adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Notre Dame
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Notre Dame is better than Indiana on 11 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Notre Dame’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Notre Dame | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%12.2–20.8 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.8%6.9–10.7 | 13.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 28%22.9–31.9 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.7%20.1–29.4 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 2.4%2.1–2.8 | 13% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 13.4%11.3–15.6 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 15.6%13.5–17.9 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 6%5–7 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.3–13.7 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 1.3%1.2–1.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 1.5%1.3–1.7 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.7%2.1–3.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 0.8%0.6–0.9 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.4%19.4–28 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.2%5.5–11.1 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.6%14.8–25 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 22.1%18.7–26 | 16.6% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%32.5–41.9 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%6.2–12 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.7%66.4–74.9 | 79.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.7%53–60.3 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 64.1%57.7–69.7 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 29.4%26.9–32.3 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.1%65.7–74.1 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%65.8–78.8 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 34.5%30–38.9 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 46.8%41.4–52.4 | 32.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%22.6–32.6 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.9%13.7–25.7 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%8.9–15.1 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%6.4–10.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%10.5–16.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.6%5.7–12.9 | 8.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%26.5–39.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 4%3.1–5.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.4%19.1–29.9 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.2%2.6–3.7 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.4–5.5 | 5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%7.6–13.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.5%1.2–1.9 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Notre Dame
Is Notre Dame a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Notre Dame is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #19 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 100%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Notre Dame?
CDC estimates 24.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.1% and 29.4%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Notre Dame?
Memorial Hospital of South Bend in South Bend, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Notre Dame’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Notre Dame have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–12%), 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 Notre Dame more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Notre Dame.
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.