Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Princeton is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Princeton trails Indiana on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Princeton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Princeton
Princeton is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Princeton is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on mental distress, obesity and smoking. Health Grade ↓
COPD and stroke run high in Princeton
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.8%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.3%), vs 3.5% across Indiana. In all, Princeton runs above Indiana on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Princeton adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.4%), vs 24.9% across Indiana. Habits ↓
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 Princeton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Princeton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Princeton is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #536 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 21% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Princeton’s median household income is $57,618; among the 8,203 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Princeton adults…
Princeton runs above IN on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Princeton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Princeton, 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 Princeton; ≈ 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 Princeton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Princeton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Princeton runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Princeton 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.
11.8% of Princeton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Princeton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | D | 41.4% | 14.5% | 20.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Princeton adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Princeton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Princeton is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Princeton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Princeton | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.1%22.1–28.8 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.8–18.7 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.8–22.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%34.1–49.6 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%36.2–44.5 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.7–43.3 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%29.2–36 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.3 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.7 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.2%14.2–20.4 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.8%18.1–24 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.4%25.8–35.5 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.6–18.4 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%33.6–47.2 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.4–12.1 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.6%76.2–82.7 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%53.5–60.9 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.6–85.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%76.2–81 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.2–70.9 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%62.7–78.6 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.7–31.5 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%28.7–39.1 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%21–28.5 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.5%15.5–21.5 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.3%11.2–15.4 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10%8.5–11.4 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.4%8.1–10.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.8%9.7–13.8 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33.5–42.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.1%16–20.6 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16.2–20.6 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 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 Princeton
Is Princeton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Princeton is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #536 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Princeton?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 49.6%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Princeton?
Gibson General Hospital in Princeton, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Princeton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Princeton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–12.1%), 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 Princeton 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 Princeton.
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.