Health · Jefferson

Jefferson, IN health

Jefferson differs from Indiana on 19 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (32% vs 15.4%) and more adults with COPD (12.8% vs 8.1%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 46740, 46711, 47326
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Jefferson’s Health Grade: C−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Jefferson is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns.

C-Self-rated healthC-Physical distressC+Mental distressDObesityC-DiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 16%
Less healthyHealthier
Indiana towns we grade (1,081)Healthier than 18%
Towns with similar incomes, $43K–$72K (7,589)Healthier than 25%

About what its income would suggest. Jefferson does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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. Jefferson’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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson adults…

40 of every 100 Jefferson adults have high blood pressure
Indiana: 38 in 100 · too close to call · margin 35.9–44%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Jefferson, betterJefferson, worseToo close to callIndiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults 32.3% Jefferson
IN 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 37.8% Jefferson
IN 37.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults 15.5% Jefferson
IN 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 23.2% Jefferson
IN 15.7%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%
Yearly checkup
IN 80%
49%
Dentist visit
IN 61%
80%
Cholesterol check
IN 86%
61%
Colon screening
IN 66%
71%
Mammogram
IN 76%
77%
Taking BP meds
IN 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Jefferson 12.4% · Indiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection

How Jefferson adults are doing

1 in 3Jefferson adults feel lonely
34.2% · Indiana 32.8% · too close to call
1 in 3Jefferson adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.7% · Indiana 25.1% · too close to call
1 in 4Jefferson adults lack social or emotional support
24.7% · Indiana 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Jefferson adults are in frequent mental distress
21.3% · Indiana 17.6% · worse
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 4
Jefferson adults worry about having enough food
22.4% · IN 14.7% · worse
1 in 7
Jefferson adults worry about keeping their housing
14.5% · IN 11.2% · worse
1 in 9
Jefferson adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
11% · IN 8.4% · worse
1 in 9
Jefferson adults lack reliable transportation
11.1% · IN 7.7% · worse

16.1% of Jefferson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.6% across Indiana.

Disability

Living with a disability

41%

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

Walking or climbing stairs19.8%
Thinking or memory21.1%
Hearing9.6%
Errands alone12.6%
Vision7.6%
Dressing or bathing5.7%

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

Around Jefferson

Jefferson 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 Jefferson.

Wabash: 43.7% Wabash: 42.2% Blue Creek: 40.7% Black Creek: 37.3% Hartford: 44.4% Bearcreek: 42.2% Monroe: 40.8% Noble: 42.9% St. Marys: 41.4% Dublin: 37.7% Liberty: 37.4% Willshire: 36.7% Jefferson: 42.9% Jefferson Wabash Wabash Blue Creek Black Creek Adams Memorial Hospital · Decatur · 14 miH Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital · Coldwater · 14.5 mi · 3★ MedicareH Indiana University Health Jay · Portland · 14.8 mi · 5★ MedicareH Meridian Health Services · Portland · 14.7 mi+
36.7%44.4%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#10 of 13towns on this map, healthiest first
Black Creek37.3%
Blue Creek40.7%
Wabash42.2%
Jefferson42.9%
Wabash43.7%
6 places to get careNearest ER 14 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 Jefferson

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

HNearest ERAdams Memorial HospitalDecatur · 14 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyIndiana University Health Jay★★★★★ · 14.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMeridian Health ServicesPortland · 14.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
14 mi
Adams Memorial Hospital
Decatur · not rated
ERRural critical access
14.5 mi
Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital
Coldwater · ★★★★★
14.7 mi
Meridian Health Services
7 sites · nearest in Portland
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
14.8 mi
Indiana University Health Jay
Portland · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.1 mi
Bluffton Regional Medical Center
Bluffton · ★★★★★
ER
20.4 mi
Family Health Care of Northwest Ohio
Van Wert · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
! Primary careJefferson's county is a federal shortage area.Adams County · need score 9 of 25
! Dental careJefferson's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Adams County · need score 16 of 25
! Mental healthJefferson's county is a federal shortage area.MHCA 20 - Adams/Allen/Wells Counties · need score 12 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 Jefferson. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Jefferson
MeasureJeffersonMarginIndiana
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure39.9%35.9–44%37.8%about the same
High cholesterol38.6%34.5–42.7%37.8%about the same
Obesity42.9%35.1–50.9%38.4%about the same
Arthritis31.6%28.4–34.9%28.3%worse
Depression28.7%24.8–32.8%25.1%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)32%27.6–36.9%15.4%worse
Asthma12.4%11–14%11.2%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.3%7.5–9.1%8.3%about the same
Diabetes15.1%13.2–17.2%13%worse
COPD12.8%11.2–14.5%8.1%worse
Heart disease9%8.1–10.1%6.8%worse
Stroke4.6%4.2–5.1%3.5%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes23.2%20.1–26.5%15.7%worse
Binge drink15.5%12.8–18.6%16.6%about the same
Get no exercise32.3%27.4–37.6%24.9%worse
Sleep under 7 hours37.8%31.3–44.7%37.1%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup78.1%74.3–81.4%79.7%about the same
Dentist visit48.9%45.4–52.7%61.2%worse
Cholesterol check80.3%77.7–82.9%85.8%worse
Colon screening61%55.9–66.1%66.3%worse
Mammogram71.2%63.1–78.7%76.4%about the same
Taking BP meds77.2%74.6–79.5%77.4%about the same
No health insurance12.4%9.9–14.8%8.9%worse
Mind & connection
Feel lonely34.2%29.1–39.1%32.8%about the same
Lack emotional support24.7%21–28.5%23.2%about the same
Frequent mental distress21.3%18.9–23.9%17.6%worse
Fair or poor health28.9%25.3–32.9%20.6%worse
Frequent physical distress18.2%16.1–20.6%13.8%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity22.4%18.9–26.1%14.7%worse
Housing insecurity14.5%12.2–16.9%11.2%worse
Utility shut-off threat11%9.5–12.6%8.4%worse
No reliable transportation11.1%9.6–12.8%7.7%worse
Receive SNAP16.1%13.5–18.9%8.6%
Disability
Any disability41%36–46.1%31.1%
Walking or climbing stairs19.8%17.4–22.6%14.2%
Thinking or memory21.1%18.5–24%15%
Hearing9.6%8.5–10.8%7.1%
Vision7.6%6.7–8.6%5%
Dressing or bathing5.7%5–6.5%3.7%
Errands alone12.6%10.9–14.3%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 Jefferson door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Indiana figure falls inside it, we don't call Jefferson better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Jefferson by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Jefferson 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