Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Indiana is healthier than 97%
Indiana differs from Pennsylvania on 15 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Indiana. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Indiana
Indiana is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Indiana is healthier than 62%. Against the 2,628 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Indiana
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.7%), vs 16.4% across Pennsylvania. Depression is above the state too: 28.5%, vs 23% across Pennsylvania. Mind & connection ↓
1 in 13 working-age adults in Indiana has no health insurance
7.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in Indiana
Indiana runs below Pennsylvania on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (4.8% vs 8.8%), diabetes (6.9% vs 11.6%) and heart disease (4.6% vs 7.4%). A young population is part of it: only 9% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%). 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 Pennsylvania figure falls outside Indiana’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Indiana’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Indiana is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns, #449 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. 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). Indiana’s median household income is $40,857; among the 2,628 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Indiana adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, Indiana runs above Pennsylvania.
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.
Out of every 100 Indiana adults…
Indiana runs below PA on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Indiana residents are 65 or older, vs 20% across Pennsylvania. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Indiana adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Pennsylvania.
Care in and near Indiana
No hospital or community health center in Indiana 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 Indiana; ≈ 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 Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Indiana and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | B | 36.1% | 6.9% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Chevy Chase Heights | — | — | — | — |
Chevy Chase Heights: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Indiana adults live with a disability (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Indiana
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Indiana is better than Pennsylvania on 8 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Pennsylvania figure falls inside Indiana’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Indiana | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.2%16.2–20.5 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.9%10.6–13.5 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.7%21.6–26.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%29–44.1 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 6.9%6–8 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 22.7%19.4–26.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.7%22.3–29.2 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.7%17.3–22.4 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–14 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 7.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12–17.9 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.3%12.5–16.3 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.8%19.1–27.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.1%16.4–24.5 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.5%31.8–45.9 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%6.4–9.1 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%71.7–80.1 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.1%55.4–63 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 69.4%65.3–73.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66%63.1–68.8 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.2%60–70.2 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%70.6–84.5 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.5%24.5–33.2 | 23% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29–37.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.4%18.4–22.6 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.5–11.6 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.6 | 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 Pennsylvania figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Indiana
Is Indiana a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Indiana is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #449 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Indiana?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29% and 44.1%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Indiana?
Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Indiana’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Indiana have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.1%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
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 Indiana more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Indiana.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Pennsylvania 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.