Fulton County Courthouse · Photo: Kelly Donaldson · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Rochester is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Rochester trails Indiana on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rochester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rochester
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Rochester
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.7%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.8% across Indiana. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.5% across Indiana. In all, Rochester runs above Indiana on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Rochester
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.9%), vs 15.7% 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 Rochester’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Rochester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rochester is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns, #486 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 26% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Rochester’s median household income is $57,008; among the 8,036 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$71K), it’s healthier than 23%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Rochester adults…
Rochester runs above IN on 5 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.
9.4 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Care in and near Rochester
1 hospital in Rochester, 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 Rochester; ≈ 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 Rochester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Rochester adults are doing
About the same as Indiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Rochester 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.
9.6% of Rochester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Rochester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | D | 41.7% | 14.7% | 18.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rochester adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rochester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rochester is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Rochester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rochester | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.9%20.5–27.4 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.4–18.6 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.3–20.8 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.7%33.6–49.8 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.7–16.8 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 41.4%37.1–45.8 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%35.8–44.8 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.7%30.1–37.3 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.3–13.2 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–10.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.6–9.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.2–12.2 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.4%12.7–18.6 | 15.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%16.2–22 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.4%24.8–34.6 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.3–17.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.7%29.1–42.8 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%7.5–11.4 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%76.7–83.4 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.4%57.6–65.1 | 61.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.2–87.6 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.4–82.5 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.6%62.5–72.4 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%67.6–82.3 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.1–30 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%26.9–37 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.2–26.3 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%12.6–18.6 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.2–13.3 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.1–9.7 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%6.8–9.3 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.6%7.6–11.6 | 8.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.9%32.2–41.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.1%15.6–20.8 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%14.8–19.2 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8.1–10.2 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.6 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 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 Rochester
Is Rochester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rochester is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #486 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rochester?
CDC estimates 41.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 49.8%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rochester?
Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester, 0.1 miles in a straight line from Rochester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rochester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.4%), 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 Rochester 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 Rochester.
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.