Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, South Bend is healthier than 71%
South Bend differs from Washington on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Bend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Bend
COPD, diabetes and heart disease run high in South Bend
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 5.1% across Washington. 1 in 7 adults have diabetes (15.1%), vs 9.5% across Washington. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.5%, vs 5.4% across Washington. In all, South Bend runs above Washington on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More South Bend adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (25.4%), vs 17.9% across Washington. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South Bend
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.9%), vs 10.2% across Washington. No reliable transportation (10.6% vs 7.2%) and utility shut-off threats (7.5% vs 5.1%) are higher too. 20.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
South Bend is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, South Bend is healthier than 26%. Against the 4,008 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 71%. Health Grade ↓
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 Washington figure falls outside South Bend’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind South Bend’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Bend is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 52% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). South Bend’s median household income is $45,000; among the 4,008 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$56K), it’s healthier than 71%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 South Bend adults…
South Bend runs above WA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.3% of South Bend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Care in and near South Bend
1 hospital in South Bend, 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 South Bend; ≈ 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 South Bend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How South Bend adults are doing
About the same as Washington on each measure.
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.
South Bend and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | C | 37.9% | 15.1% | 15% | CDC place |
| Raymond | C+ | 36.8% | 13.5% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Bend adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Bend
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Bend is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside South Bend’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Bend | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25%22.2–28.3 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15–19 | 12.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.1–20.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.9%32.2–43.9 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.3–17 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.1%35.5–43 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%36.1–43.9 | 34.9% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.6%29.6–35.8 | 24.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.6 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.4–9.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–5 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.4–16.6 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%12.8–17.4 | 10.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.4%21.7–29.4 | 17.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.7–16.9 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%32.1–42.8 | 31.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.6%10.7–14.8 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71%67.2–74.8 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.2%51.7–58.7 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%80.5–84.6 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.2–78.8 | 70.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.7%55.8–65.5 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.7%63.1–77.6 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.5–29.4 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27.8–35.2 | 28% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.9%15.2–18.8 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.5%12–15.2 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.6%9.6–11.6 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.3%18.4–22.4 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.2%33.2–41.4 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.8–20.4 | 10.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%15.2–19.3 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.5 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.8–11.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 3.1% | 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 Washington figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in South Bend
Is South Bend a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Bend is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Bend?
CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.2% and 43.9%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Bend?
Willapa Harbor Hospital in South Bend, 0.7 miles in a straight line from South Bend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in South Bend have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.7–14.8%), against 8.4% across Washington.
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 South Bend 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 South Bend.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Washington 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.