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New Castle Archaeological Site from southeastPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
≈ C−Health Grade
Health in Prairie Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Prairie Township is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns

Prairie Township trails Indiana on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 47362, 47386, 47360, 47302. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Prairie Township

Health Grade

What’s behind Prairie Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Prairie Township is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns, #420 of 589 in Indiana. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).

CSelf-rated health22.2% · IN 20.6% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.5% · IN 13.8% · U.S. 13%
CMental distress18% · IN 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity43.3% · IN 38.4% · U.S. 32.9%
C−Diabetes14% · IN 13% · U.S. 12%
C−Smoking18% smoke · IN 15.7% · U.S. 11.8%
CExercise28.7% · IN 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 20%
Less healthyHealthier
Indiana towns we grade (589)Healthier than 29%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $51K–$85K (10,335)Healthier than 19%

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). Prairie Township’s median household income is $68,088; among the 10,335 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 19%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Prairie Township could be anywhere from D to B. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 47362,47386,47360,47302), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Prairie Township adults…

Prairie Township runs above IN on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Prairie Township adults have COPD
Indiana: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.7–11%
Better than INWorseAbout the sameIndiana
Why age matters here

Prairie Township is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Indiana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Prairie Township as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Prairie Township26%
Indiana17%
Getting care

Care in and near Prairie Township

No hospital or community health center in Prairie Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERHenry County Memorial HospitalNew Castle · 4.7 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyHenry County Memorial Hospital★★★★★ · 4.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMeridian Health ServicesNew Castle · 4.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4.7 mi
Henry County Memorial Hospital
New Castle · ★★★★★
ER
4.9 mi
Meridian Health Services
5 sites · nearest in New Castle
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
10.3 mi
Open Door Health Services
3 sites · nearest in Muncie
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
13.2 mi
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Muncie · ★★★★★
ER
18.1 mi
Ascension St. Vincent Anderson
Anderson · ★★★★★
ER
19.5 mi
Community Hospital of Anderson and Madison County
Anderson · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Prairie Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Prairie Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Prairie 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 Prairie 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 28.7%IN 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 41.1%IN 37.1%
Binge drink 15.7%IN 16.6%
Smoke cigarettes 18%IN 15.7%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Prairie Township, betterPrairie Township, worseAbout the sameIndiana
Where Prairie Township gets moving

2.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

80%Yearly checkupIN 80%
60%Dentist visitIN 61%
87%Cholesterol checkIN 86%
66%Colon screeningIN 66%
75%MammogramIN 76%
79%Taking BP medsIN 77%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Prairie Township 8.2% · Indiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection

How Prairie Township adults are doing

About the same as Indiana on each measure.

1 in 3Prairie Township adults feel lonely
33.5% · IN 32.8% · About the same as IN
1 in 4Prairie Township adults lack social or emotional support
23.2% · IN 23.2% · About the same as IN
1 in 4Prairie Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
26.6% · IN 25.1% · About the same as IN
1 in 6Prairie Township adults are in frequent mental distress
18% · IN 17.6% · About the same as IN
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Prairie 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.

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 7
Prairie Township adults worry about having enough food
14.1% · IN 14.7%
About the same as IN
1 in 9
Prairie Township adults worry about keeping their housing
10.6% · IN 11.2%
About the same as IN
1 in 13
Prairie Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8% · IN 8.4%
About the same as IN
1 in 13
Prairie Township adults lack reliable transportation
7.5% · IN 7.7%
About the same as IN

8.9% of Prairie Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.

Around town

Prairie Township and the towns around it

Prairie Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.

Jefferson Township: 41.5%Henry Township: 44.3%Stoney Creek Township: 40.3%Blue River Township: 41.4%Monroe Township: 42.2%Fall Creek Township: 40.5%Harrison Township: 43.2%Greensboro Township: 43.9%Spiceland Township: 42.6%Liberty Township: 43.5%Franklin Township: 42.7%Union Township: 37.7%Perry Township: 39.2%Dalton Township: 38%Center Township: 39.4%Salem Township: 36.3%Muncie: 38.8%Prairie Township: 43.3%Prairie TownshipJefferson TownshipHenry TownshipStoney Creek TownshipBlue River TownshipMonroe TownshipHenry County Memorial Hospital · New Castle · 4.7 mi · 4★ MedicareHIndiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital · Muncie · 13.2 mi · 3★ MedicareHMeridian Health Services · New Castle · 4.9 mi+Urgent Care · Muncie · 10.3 mi+
Healthier than INNear INLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#15 of 18 towns on this map, healthiest first
Stoney Creek Township40.3%
Blue River Township41.4%
Jefferson Township41.5%
Monroe Township42.2%
Prairie Township43.3%
Henry Township44.3%
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
Prairie TownshipC−43.3%14%18%ZIP codes
Jefferson TownshipC41.5%13.1%16.6%ZIP codes
Henry TownshipD44.3%14.1%19.1%ZIP 47362
Stoney Creek Township————
Monroe TownshipD−42.2%18.1%24.1%ZIP 47302
Blue River TownshipC41.4%13.8%16.4%ZIP codes

Stoney Creek Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

34.3%

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

Walking or climbing stairs16%
Thinking or memory15.9%
Hearing8.4%
Errands alone8.8%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4.2%
Indiana

Every CDC estimate for Prairie Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Prairie Township is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Prairie Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Prairie TownshipINU.S.vs IN
Overall health
Fair or poor health22.2%19.4–25.220.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.5%13.6–17.413.8%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18%16–20.117.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity43.3%36.2–50.738.4%32.9%About the same
Diabetes14%12.1–15.913%12%About the same
High blood pressure41.7%37.7–45.937.8%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)41.6%37.5–45.937.8%37.1%About the same
Arthritis32.9%29.6–36.428.3%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.4%10.2–12.911.2%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.8%8.9–10.78.3%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease8.1%7.3–96.8%6.4%Worse
COPD9.8%8.7–118.1%6.3%Worse
Stroke4%3.7–4.43.5%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)17.3%14.4–20.815.4%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18%15.4–20.515.7%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work28.7%24.3–33.424.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking15.7%13.1–18.716.6%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours41.1%34.8–47.537.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.2%6.9–9.88.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year80%76.8–8379.7%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year59.8%56.3–63.561.2%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.5%84.8–88.185.8%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79.3%76.7–81.877.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)66.3%61.6–7166.3%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)74.8%67.5–81.776.4%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression26.6%23.1–30.425.1%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely33.5%29–38.732.8%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support23.2%19.9–2723.2%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food14.1%12.1–16.614.7%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.6%9–12.411.2%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8%6.9–9.28.4%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.5%6.6–8.67.7%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)8.9%7.5–10.48.6%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability34.3%30.1–38.731.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16%13.9–18.214.2%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering15.9%14.1–17.815%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.4%7.4–9.37.1%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5.2%4.7–5.85%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.8%7.8–9.88.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.2%3.7–4.63.7%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 Prairie Township

Is Prairie Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Prairie Township is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #420 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Prairie Township?

CDC estimates 43.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.2% and 50.7%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Prairie Township?

Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Prairie Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Prairie Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–9.8%), 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 Prairie 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 Prairie 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.