On CDC estimates, Ross Township is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns
Ross Township differs from Indiana on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 46410, 46307, 46342. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ross Township
Making ends meet is harder in Ross Township
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.7%), vs 14.7% across Indiana. Utility shut-off threats (11.7% vs 8.4%) and housing insecurity (14.7% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 12.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Ross Township
Grades next door run from Winfield (A−) to Calumet Township (D−). Ross Township is a C. Around town ↓
Ross Township sleeps less
44.3% of adults sleep under 7 hours a night, vs 37.1% 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 Ross Township’s likely range; Ross Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 46410, 46307, 46342, 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 Ross Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ross Township is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns, #329 of 589 in Indiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 46% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Ross Township’s median household income is $72,416; among the 10,708 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($54K–$91K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Indiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Ross Township is healthier than 44% of graded towns, against 29% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.4% of Ross Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Ross Township and the towns around it
Ross Township’s Health Grade ranks 8th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Township | C | 40.2% | 14.7% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Merrillville | C− | 42.5% | 16.3% | 17.2% | CDC place |
| Union Township | B− | 39.2% | 12.5% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Hobart Township | C− | 39.3% | 14% | 18.9% | ZIP codes |
| Center Township | B+ | 34.9% | 11.3% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| St. John Township | B+ | 34.6% | 11.9% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Calumet Township | D− | 49.5% | 22.9% | 24.7% | ZIP codes |
| Crown Point | B+ | 34.7% | 11.4% | 14.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Everyday habits, side by side with Indiana
Share of adults, with the Indiana figure marked.
9.5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Ross Township adults…
Ross Township runs below IN on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ross Township
4 community health centers in Ross 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 Ross 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Ross Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Ross Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ross Township runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Ross 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ross Township adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ross Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ross Township is better than Indiana on 3 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Ross Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ross Township | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.6%20.5–24.8 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.9–15.9 | 13.8% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.7–19 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.2%36.4–44 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%13.2–16.2 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%36.4–41.8 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31.7–37.1 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.8%25.6–30.1 | 28.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.7–13.2 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.9–8.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.9%15.6–20.4 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.9–18.6 | 15.7% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%24.1–29.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.6%14.4–18.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.3%41–47.4 | 37.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.3%8.1–10.6 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%77.6–82.4 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.7%54–59.3 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.6–88.4 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%76.1–80.6 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%65.7–71.9 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%74.4–82.7 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.2%17.9–22.6 | 25.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 32.6%29.4–36 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%24.3–30.1 | 23.2% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.7%17.7–22.1 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%13–16.6 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.6–10.8 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.5%27.8–33.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%13.9–17.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.2–16.3 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 7.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.8–9.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.4%4–4.8 | 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 Ross Township
Is Ross Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ross Township is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #329 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ross Township?
CDC estimates 40.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.4% and 44%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ross Township?
St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Ross Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ross Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–10.6%), 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 Ross 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 Ross 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.