Health · Jackson

Jackson, IN health

On most measures Jackson looks like Indiana as a whole. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (12.4% vs 15.4%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing a utility shut-off (10% vs 8.4%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 46383, 46391, 46304
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Jackson’s Health Grade: C

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Jackson is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns and 53% of Indiana towns.

C+Self-rated healthB-Physical distressCMental distressC-ObesityC+DiabetesC-SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 34%
Less healthyHealthier
Indiana towns we grade (1,081)Healthier than 53%
Towns with similar incomes, $100K–$166K (4,106)Healthier than 3%

Wealth explains part of the grade. Jackson is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Jackson could be anywhere from D to B.
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 Jackson 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. Jackson’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. 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 Jackson 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

Out of every 100 Jackson adults…

39 of every 100 Jackson adults have high blood pressure
Indiana: 38 in 100 · too close to call · margin 35.2–41.9%

Bars show Jackson; the black tick is Indiana. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Jackson, betterJackson, worseToo close to callIndiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults 26.6% Jackson
IN 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 37.9% Jackson
IN 37.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults 16.4% Jackson
IN 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 17.7% Jackson
IN 15.7%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Jackson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Indiana.

78%
Yearly checkup
IN 80%
62%
Dentist visit
IN 61%
84%
Cholesterol check
IN 86%
66%
Colon screening
IN 66%
76%
Mammogram
IN 76%
74%
Taking BP meds
IN 77%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Jackson 9.9% · Indiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection

How Jackson adults are doing

1 in 3Jackson adults feel lonely
32.8% · Indiana 32.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Jackson adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.4% · Indiana 25.1% · too close to call
1 in 4Jackson adults lack social or emotional support
23.1% · Indiana 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 6Jackson adults are in frequent mental distress
18% · 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 6
Jackson adults worry about having enough food
16.5% · IN 14.7% · about the same
1 in 8
Jackson adults worry about keeping their housing
12.6% · IN 11.2% · about the same
1 in 10
Jackson adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10% · IN 8.4% · worse
1 in 11
Jackson adults lack reliable transportation
8.9% · IN 7.7% · worse

11.4% of Jackson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.

Disability

Living with a disability

31.6%

of Jackson adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.6%
Thinking or memory15.6%
Hearing7%
Errands alone8.3%
Vision5.3%
Dressing or bathing3.9%

Black tick: Indiana. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Jackson

Jackson and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Jackson.

Liberty: 39.3% New Durham: 38.8% Pine: 39.4% Washington: 39% Westchester: 39.5% Center: 39.2% Portage: 41.7% Chesterton: 39.5% Burns Harbor: 40.9% Scipio: 36.1% Coolspring: 38.7% Clinton: 38.4% Beverly Shores: 38% Morgan: 38.9% Portage: 42.6% Jackson: 40% Jackson Liberty New Durham Pine Washington Westchester Northwest Health - Porter · Valparaiso · 3.9 mi · 2★ MedicareH Franciscan Health Michigan City · Michigan City · 10.8 mi · 3★ MedicareH Northwest Health-La Porte · La Porte · 13.7 mi · 3★ MedicareH Northshore Valparaiso Health Center · Valparaiso · 3.7 mi+ 219 Health Network · Valparaiso · 4.3 mi+
36.1%42.6%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#13 of 16towns on this map, healthiest first
New Durham38.8%
Washington39%
Liberty39.3%
Pine39.4%
Westchester39.5%
Jackson40%
6 places to get careNearest ER 3.9 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Jackson

No hospital or community health center in Jackson itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERNorthwest Health - PorterValparaiso · 3.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyFranciscan Health Michigan City★★★★★ · 10.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNorthshore Health CentersValparaiso · 3.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.7 mi
Northshore Health Centers
2 sites · nearest in Valparaiso
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
3.9 mi
Northwest Health - Porter
Valparaiso · ★★★★★
ER
4.3 mi
219 Health Network
Valparaiso · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
10.8 mi
Franciscan Health Michigan City
Michigan City · ★★★★★
ER
13.7 mi
Northwest Health-La Porte
La Porte · ★★★★★
ER
14.8 mi
St. Mary Medical Center
Hobart · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careJackson is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careJackson is not a shortage area
! Mental healthJackson's county is a federal shortage area.MHCA 21 - Porter and Starke Counties · need score 9 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 Jackson. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Jackson
MeasureJacksonMarginIndiana
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure38.5%35.2–41.9%37.8%about the same
High cholesterol38%34.5–41.4%37.8%about the same
Obesity40%34.8–45.3%38.4%about the same
Arthritis27.8%25.2–30.6%28.3%about the same
Depression24.4%21.4–27.7%25.1%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)12.4%10.2–14.7%15.4%better
Asthma11%9.8–12.3%11.2%about the same
Cancer (not skin)7.9%7.2–8.7%8.3%about the same
Diabetes12.6%11.1–14.2%13%about the same
COPD8%7.1–9%8.1%about the same
Heart disease6.5%5.8–7.2%6.8%about the same
Stroke3.3%3–3.5%3.5%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.7%15.6–20%15.7%about the same
Binge drink16.4%13.8–19.2%16.6%about the same
Get no exercise26.6%23.2–30.3%24.9%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours37.9%33–42.8%37.1%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup78.4%75.3–81.3%79.7%about the same
Dentist visit61.5%58.4–64.5%61.2%about the same
Cholesterol check84.2%82.3–85.9%85.8%about the same
Colon screening65.6%61.5–69.6%66.3%about the same
Mammogram75.9%69.6–81.5%76.4%about the same
Taking BP meds74.2%71.4–76.9%77.4%worse
No health insurance9.9%8.5–11.6%8.9%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely32.8%28.9–36.8%32.8%about the same
Lack emotional support23.1%20.2–26.1%23.2%about the same
Frequent mental distress18%16.2–20%17.6%about the same
Fair or poor health21.1%18.8–23.8%20.6%about the same
Frequent physical distress14.1%12.5–15.7%13.8%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity16.5%14.5–18.6%14.7%about the same
Housing insecurity12.6%11–14.3%11.2%about the same
Utility shut-off threat10%8.8–11.2%8.4%worse
No reliable transportation8.9%7.8–9.9%7.7%worse
Receive SNAP11.4%9.9–12.9%8.6%
Disability
Any disability31.6%28.1–35.2%31.1%
Walking or climbing stairs13.6%12–15.4%14.2%
Thinking or memory15.6%13.9–17.4%15%
Hearing7%6.2–7.8%7.1%
Vision5.3%4.8–5.8%5%
Dressing or bathing3.9%3.5–4.3%3.7%
Errands alone8.3%7.4–9.2%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 Jackson door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Indiana figure falls inside it, we don't call Jackson better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Jackson by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Jackson by how much of its land each one covers.

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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01