Photo: Calvin Beale · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Vernon Township is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Vernon Township trails Indiana on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 47229, 47274, 47102. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vernon Township
COPD and heart disease run high in Vernon Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 8.1% across Indiana. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 6.8% across Indiana. In all, Vernon Township runs above Indiana on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Vernon Township
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.8%), 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 Vernon Township’s likely range; Vernon Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 47229, 47274, 47102, 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 Vernon Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vernon Township is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns, #483 of 589 in Indiana. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 29% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Vernon Township’s median household income is $64,850; among the 9,911 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Vernon Township adults…
Vernon Township 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.
2.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Vernon Township
No hospital or community health center in Vernon Township itself. These are the nearest.
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 Vernon 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 Vernon Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
How Vernon Township adults are doing
About the same as Indiana on each measure.
1 in 3 Vernon 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.3% of Vernon Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Vernon Township and the towns around it
Vernon Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Township | D | 41.7% | 14.3% | 19.8% | ZIP codes |
| Washington Township | C | 40% | 13.1% | 17.4% | ZIP codes |
| Grassy Fork Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Jennings Township | D | 42.7% | 14.2% | 20.6% | ZIP codes |
| Gibson Township | D | 42.4% | 14.7% | 20.3% | ZIP codes |
| Finley Township | D | 42.4% | 14.3% | 19.7% | ZIP codes |
| Marion Township | C | 39.8% | 13.8% | 18.1% | ZIP codes |
Grassy Fork Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vernon Township adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vernon Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vernon Township is better than Indiana on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside Vernon Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vernon Township | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%20.8–27 | 20.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.9–17.8 | 13.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.9–21.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.7%34.4–49 | 38.4% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.5–16.2 | 13% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%35.9–43.9 | 37.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%35.2–43.5 | 37.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.6–35 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–9.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%9–11.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.6–4.4 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19%15.8–22.6 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.8%17–22.5 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.8%24.4–33.6 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.2–18.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%30.6–43 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.2–11.4 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.7–82.1 | 79.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57%53.4–60.7 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%82.8–86.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%75.8–80.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.3%60.5–69.9 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.4%61.2–77 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.7–31 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%28.3–37.9 | 32.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20–26.9 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.4%14–19.1 | 14.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12%10.3–13.9 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.8–10.2 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.3–9.5 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.3%8.6–12.2 | 8.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.8%30.6–39.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.8%14.7–19.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15–19 | 15% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.3 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 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 Vernon Township
Is Vernon Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vernon Township is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #483 of 589 in Indiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vernon Township?
CDC estimates 41.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.4% and 49%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vernon Township?
Norton Scott Hospital in Scottsburg, 8.0 miles in a straight line from Vernon Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Vernon Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.4%), 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 Vernon 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 Vernon 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.