Photo: Evking22 · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Indiana, Penn Township is healthier than 58% of graded towns
Penn Township trails Indiana on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 46544, 46545, 46561, 46614. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Penn Township
Penn Township looks healthier next to Indiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 58% of the 589 Indiana towns we grade, but 38% of towns nationwide. Much of Indiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Health varies a lot right around Penn Township
Grades next door run from Granger (A) to Baugo Township (D). Penn Township 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 Penn Township’s likely range; Penn Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 46544, 46545, 46561, 46614, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Penn Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Penn Township is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns, #250 of 589 in Indiana. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 55% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Penn Township’s median household income is $65,544; among the 10,029 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Penn Township and the towns around it
Penn Township’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Township | C+ | 35.5% | 12.6% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Baugo Township | D | 45.6% | 14.8% | 18.3% | ZIP codes |
| Portage Township | D | 39.2% | 15.2% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
| South Bend | D | 39.7% | 15.2% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| Mishawaka | C | 35.6% | 12.6% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Madison Township | C | 40% | 12.9% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
| Harris Township | A− | 32.2% | 11.2% | 11.7% | ZIP codes |
| Clay Township | B+ | 32.3% | 11.4% | 12.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Penn Township adults…
Penn Township runs above IN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Penn Township
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Penn Township, 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 Penn 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
13 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Penn Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Penn Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Penn Township runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Penn Township 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.
9.5% of Penn Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Penn Township adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Penn Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Penn Township is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Penn Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Penn Township | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.4%19.2–23.9 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.5–15.6 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.4–21.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%31.1–40.5 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%11.2–14.2 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%34.2–40.6 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%35.1–41.8 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%26–31.2 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.3–12.8 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.8–9.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17%14.2–20.2 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.4–18.5 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.5%23.3–30.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%14.3–19.7 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%32.9–41.9 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.6%7.3–9.8 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.8–82.5 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.9%56.6–63.1 | 61.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.7–86.9 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.6–79.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.8–70.3 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%65.7–78.7 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%25.4–32.1 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%30.4–38.5 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.8%21.6–27.9 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.2%13.1–17.3 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10.1–13.3 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.3–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8.1–10.9 | 8.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%30–36.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%12.8–16.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14.6–18.1 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.2 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.5–4.2 | 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 Penn Township
Is Penn Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Penn Township is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #250 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Penn Township?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.1% and 40.5%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Penn Township?
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Penn Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Penn Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–9.8%), 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 Penn Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Penn Township.
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.