John E. and Catherine E. Christian House (Samara) · Photo: Tim Musson · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, West Lafayette is healthier than 99%
West Lafayette differs from Indiana on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Lafayette. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Lafayette
West Lafayette is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, West Lafayette is healthier than 69%. Against the 1,232 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$44K), it’s healthier than 99%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in West Lafayette
1 in 6 adults lack reliable transportation (16.4%), about twice the Indiana rate. Food insecurity (25.6% vs 14.7%) and utility shut-off threats (12.4% vs 8.4%) are higher too. 17% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in West Lafayette
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (24%), vs 17.6% across Indiana. Loneliness is above the state too: 40%, vs 32.8% across Indiana. Mind & connection ↓
West Lafayette looks healthier next to Indiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 89% of the 589 Indiana towns we grade, but 69% of towns nationwide. Much of Indiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in West Lafayette
West Lafayette runs below Indiana on nine chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.4% vs 8.3%), arthritis (12.8% vs 28.3%) and diabetes (6.1% vs 13%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Indiana 17%). Conditions ↓
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 West Lafayette’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind West Lafayette’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Lafayette is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #68 of 589 in Indiana. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). West Lafayette’s median household income is $34,891; among the 1,232 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$44K), it’s healthier than 99%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few Indiana towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state West Lafayette is healthier than 89% of graded towns, against 68% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17% of West Lafayette adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Out of every 100 West Lafayette adults…
West Lafayette runs below IN on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of West Lafayette residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Indiana. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
How West Lafayette adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, West Lafayette runs above Indiana.
2 in 5 West Lafayette 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.
Care in and near West Lafayette
No hospital or community health center in West Lafayette 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 West Lafayette; ≈ 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.
20 miles of trails across 23 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of West Lafayette adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
West Lafayette and the towns around it
West Lafayette’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Lafayette | B+ | 25.5% | 6.1% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Tippecanoe Township | B+ | 28.6% | 9.2% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| Wabash Township | B+ | 26.1% | 7.3% | 12.4% | ZIP 47906 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Lafayette adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Lafayette
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Lafayette is better than Indiana on 12 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Indiana figure falls inside West Lafayette’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Lafayette | IN | U.S. | vs IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.4–23.7 | 20.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.2–13 | 13.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24%21.6–26.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.5%21.1–30.1 | 38.4% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 13% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 22.2%19.5–24.9 | 37.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27%24.1–29.9 | 37.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 28.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.3–12.9 | 11.2% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.3%2.9–3.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.7%1.5–1.8 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11%9–13.1 | 15.4% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%10.9–14.8 | 15.7% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 23%19.5–26.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.2–19.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%33.3–43.5 | 37.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%8.7–11.9 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%70.1–77.3 | 79.7% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.7%48.3–55.2 | 61.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 67.5%64.4–70.5 | 85.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 53.3%50.8–55.9 | 77.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%64.5–73 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.9%71.1–83.7 | 76.4% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.5%24.1–30.8 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%35.5–44.6 | 32.8% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%22–28.7 | 23.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.6%22.3–28.9 | 14.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15%13–17.2 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 8.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.4%14.6–18.2 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17%14.6–19.6 | 8.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8%30.1–38 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.9%6.8–9 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.4%21.1–26 | 15% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 7.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 West Lafayette
Is West Lafayette a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Lafayette is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #68 of 589 in Indiana. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Lafayette?
CDC estimates 25.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.1% and 30.1%, against 38.4% across Indiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Lafayette?
Franciscan Health Lafayette in Lafayette, 5.7 miles in a straight line from West Lafayette’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Lafayette have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–11.9%), 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 West Lafayette more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Lafayette.
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.