Health · Boston
Boston, IN health
Boston differs from Indiana on 5 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (9.2% vs 15.4%) and fewer adults with diabetes (10.4% vs 13%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BostonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Boston’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Boston is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns.
C-Self-rated healthC-Physical distressDMental distressCObesityDDiabetesDSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 13%
Less healthyHealthier
Indiana towns we grade (1,081)Healthier than 12%
Towns with similar incomes, $58K–$96K (9,836)Healthier than 5%
About what its income would suggest. Boston does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Boston could be anywhere from D− to C+.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Indiana ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Boston with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Boston uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Boston compares with Indiana
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
34.1% have obesity
4 better8 close0 worse
Habits
22.9% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.9% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
34.1% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
11.7% face food insecurity
1 better4 close0 worse
Disability
30.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Boston adults…
33 of every 100 Boston adults have high blood pressure
Indiana: 38 in 100 · better · margin 28.8–37.7%
Bars show Boston; the black tick is Indiana. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Boston, betterBoston, worseToo close to callIndiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults
22.9% Boston
IN 24.9%
IN 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
37.4% Boston
IN 37.1%
IN 37.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
18.1% Boston
IN 16.6%
IN 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
15.3% Boston
IN 15.7%
IN 15.7%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Boston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.
Yearly checkup
IN 80%Dentist visit
IN 61%Cholesterol check
IN 86%Colon screening
IN 66%Mammogram
IN 76%Taking BP meds
IN 77%1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Boston 6.8% · Indiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection
How Boston adults are doing
1 in 3Boston adults feel lonely
34.1% · Indiana 32.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Boston adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.2% · Indiana 25.1% · too close to call
1 in 4Boston adults lack social or emotional support
23.4% · Indiana 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Boston adults are in frequent mental distress
19.3% · Indiana 17.6% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 9
Boston adults worry about having enough food
11.7% · IN 14.7% · about the same
1 in 10
Boston adults worry about keeping their housing
9.6% · IN 11.2% · about the same
1 in 15
Boston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.8% · IN 8.4% · better
1 in 15
Boston adults lack reliable transportation
6.6% · IN 7.7% · about the same
6.3% of Boston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.
Disability
Living with a disability
30.9%
of Boston adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12.8%
Thinking or memory15.7%
Hearing6.5%
Errands alone7.9%
Vision4.1%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Black tick: Indiana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Boston
No hospital or community health center in Boston itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERReid HealthRichmond · 8.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careDamar Health Services- RichmondRichmond · 4.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.9 mi
Meridian Health Services
2 sites · nearest in Richmond
Meridian Health ServicesRichmond · 5.9 mi
Meridian Health ServicesRichmond · 5.9 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careBoston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wayne County · need score 12 of 25
! Dental careBoston's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Wayne County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthBoston's county is a federal shortage area.MHCA 8 - Rush/Fayette/Union/Wayne/Randolph Counties · need score 17 of 25
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 Boston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Boston
| Measure | Boston | Margin | Indiana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 33.2% | 28.8–37.7% | 37.8% | better |
| High cholesterol | 35.8% | 31.3–40.4% | 37.8% | about the same |
| Obesity | 34.1% | 27–41.7% | 38.4% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6% | 24.1–31.3% | 28.3% | about the same |
| Depression | 28.2% | 23.9–32.7% | 25.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 9.2% | 7.3–11.2% | 15.4% | better |
| Asthma | 11.9% | 10.3–13.6% | 11.2% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.3% | 7.2–9.4% | 8.3% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 10.4% | 8.6–12.4% | 13% | better |
| COPD | 7.2% | 5.5–9% | 8.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.6% | 4.7–6.7% | 6.8% | better |
| Stroke | 2.9% | 2.4–3.5% | 3.5% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3% | 11.6–19.3% | 15.7% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 18.1% | 14.7–21.9% | 16.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 22.9% | 18–28.6% | 24.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4% | 30.9–43.5% | 37.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.9% | 74.9–82.6% | 79.7% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 63.4% | 59.9–66.8% | 61.2% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.9% | 82.9–88.5% | 85.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68.2% | 62.7–72.9% | 66.3% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 72% | 63.1–79.4% | 76.4% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.1% | 72.5–79.4% | 77.4% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 4.8–9.1% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.1% | 29.2–39.3% | 32.8% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.4% | 19.5–27.6% | 23.2% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.3% | 16.5–22.3% | 17.6% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18% | 14.4–22.1% | 20.6% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.3% | 11–15.7% | 13.8% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 11.7% | 8.7–15.3% | 14.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 9.6% | 7.4–11.9% | 11.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.8% | 5.4–8.1% | 8.4% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6.6% | 5.3–8% | 7.7% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 6.3% | 4.5–8.5% | 8.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.9% | 25.8–36.7% | 31.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.8% | 10–15.8% | 14.2% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.7% | 12.8–18.8% | 15% | |
| Hearing | 6.5% | 5.5–7.6% | 7.1% | |
| Vision | 4.1% | 3.3–5% | 5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.2% | 2.5–4% | 3.7% | |
| Errands alone | 7.9% | 6.3–9.6% | 8.1% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Boston door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Indiana figure falls inside it, we don't call Boston better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Boston directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Indiana figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.