Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Salem is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Salem trails Indiana on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Salem
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.6%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.8%), vs 3.5% across Indiana. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.2%, vs 6.8% across Indiana. In all, Salem runs above Indiana on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Salem is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Salem is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Salem
53.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.2% across Indiana. Among those 65 and older, 23.7% have lost all their teeth (Indiana 15.4%). Checkups ↓
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 Salem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #570 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 16% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Salem’s median household income is $56,538; among the 7,886 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs above IN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Care in and near Salem
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Salem, 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 Salem; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Salem adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Salem runs above Indiana.
1 in 3 Salem 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.
14.6% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | D | 43% | 16% | 22% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.1%23.6–30.6 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.7–20 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%17.8–22.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43%34.7–51 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%14–18.1 | 13% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.7%39.3–47.8 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.6–45.6 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.8%30.4–37.2 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.7 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.6%11–14.2 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.7%19.6–27.9 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22%18.9–25.2 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.9%27–37 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.3–18 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.8%30.9–45.1 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%7.8–11.8 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.9%76.3–83 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%49.8–57.8 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.8%81.4–85.7 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.1–81.2 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.7%58.3–68.8 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.6%60.3–77.7 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.7%24.8–32.7 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%27.8–37.9 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.6–26.6 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.6%16.4–23 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.3%11.3–15.5 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.2–12.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%8.6–11.4 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%12–17 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.4%34.5–44.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20%17.3–22.7 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%16.7–21.3 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.3–7.9 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.2–13.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 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 Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health, #570 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salem?
CDC estimates 43% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 51%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Ascension St. Vincent Salem in Salem, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–11.8%), 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 Salem 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 Salem.
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.