Health · West

West, IN health

West differs from Indiana on 6 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (18.8% vs 15.4%) and more adults with heart disease (7.9% vs 6.8%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 46563, 46511
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

West’s Health Grade: C−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, West is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns.

CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressC+Mental distressDObesityC-DiabetesCSmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 22%
Less healthyHealthier
Indiana towns we grade (1,081)Healthier than 31%
Towns with similar incomes, $67K–$111K (9,259)Healthier than 8%

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

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

41 of every 100 West adults have high blood pressure
Indiana: 38 in 100 · too close to call · margin 36.7–44.5%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

West, betterWest, worseToo close to callIndiana
Get no exerciseshare of adults 28.6% West
IN 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 37.7% West
IN 37.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults 15.7% West
IN 16.6%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 17.1% West
IN 15.7%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%
Yearly checkup
IN 80%
58%
Dentist visit
IN 61%
86%
Cholesterol check
IN 86%
66%
Colon screening
IN 66%
72%
Mammogram
IN 76%
80%
Taking BP meds
IN 77%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
West 10.2% · Indiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Mind & connection

How West adults are doing

1 in 3West adults feel lonely
32.8% · Indiana 32.8% · too close to call
1 in 4West adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.6% · Indiana 25.1% · too close to call
1 in 4West adults lack social or emotional support
23.4% · Indiana 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 6West adults are in frequent mental distress
17.8% · 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 7
West adults worry about having enough food
14.9% · IN 14.7% · about the same
1 in 9
West adults worry about keeping their housing
11% · IN 11.2% · about the same
1 in 13
West adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.9% · IN 8.4% · about the same
1 in 13
West adults lack reliable transportation
7.7% · IN 7.7% · about the same

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

Disability

Living with a disability

33.3%

of West adults live with a disability (Indiana 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.1%
Thinking or memory15.6%
Hearing8.3%
Errands alone8.8%
Vision5.5%
Dressing or bathing4.1%

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

Around West

West 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 West.

Polk: 39.7% Union: 42.8% Center: 43.4% Oregon: 40.1% North: 42.5% Lincoln: 36.8% Liberty: 33.7% Green: 44.7% North Bend: 42.1% German: 42.4% Bourbon: 42.7% Washington: 43.3% Davis: 41.5% Johnson: 37.4% Koontz Lake: 39.9% West: 43.2% West Polk Union Center Oregon Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center - Plymouth · Plymouth · 4.3 mi · 4★ MedicareH Northwest Health - Starke · Knox · 11 mi · 1★ MedicareH Community Hospital of Bremen · Bremen · 16.1 miH Bowen Center Marshall · Plymouth · 4.2 mi+ Knox/Winamac Community Health Centers · Knox · 10.5 mi+
33.7%44.7%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#13 of 16towns on this map, healthiest first
Polk39.7%
Oregon40.1%
Union42.8%
West43.2%
Center43.4%
6 places to get careNearest ER 4.3 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 West

1 community health center in West, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERSaint Joseph Regional Medical Center - PlymouthPlymouth · 4.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyNorthwest Health - Starke★★★★★ · 11 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBowen HealthPlymouth · 4.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4.2 mi
Bowen Health
3 sites · nearest in Plymouth
Sliding-scale feesIn West
Directions to nearest
4.3 mi
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center - Plymouth
Plymouth · ★★★★★
ER
10.5 mi
Knox/Winamac Community Health Centers
Knox · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
11 mi
Northwest Health - Starke
Knox · ★★★★★
ER
16.1 mi
Community Hospital of Bremen
Bremen · not rated
ERRural critical access
21.1 mi
Pulaski Memorial Hospital
Winamac · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careWest is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careWest is not a shortage area
! Mental healthWest's county is a federal shortage area.Mental Health Catchment Area 28 - Warsaw · 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 West. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for West
MeasureWestMarginIndiana
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure40.5%36.7–44.5%37.8%about the same
High cholesterol41.5%37.6–45.7%37.8%about the same
Obesity43.2%36.4–50.2%38.4%about the same
Arthritis31.5%28.4–34.7%28.3%worse
Depression25.6%22.3–29.4%25.1%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)18.8%15.7–22.2%15.4%worse
Asthma11.2%10–12.5%11.2%about the same
Cancer (not skin)9.4%8.6–10.3%8.3%worse
Diabetes14.1%12.4–16%13%about the same
COPD9.3%8.4–10.5%8.1%worse
Heart disease7.9%7.1–8.7%6.8%worse
Stroke3.9%3.6–4.3%3.5%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.1%15–19.5%15.7%about the same
Binge drink15.7%13.1–18.6%16.6%about the same
Get no exercise28.6%24.6–33.1%24.9%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours37.7%31.6–44.4%37.1%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup79.1%75.9–82.2%79.7%about the same
Dentist visit58.4%54.7–61.9%61.2%about the same
Cholesterol check86.2%84.5–87.7%85.8%about the same
Colon screening65.6%60.7–70.3%66.3%about the same
Mammogram72.2%63.9–79.5%76.4%about the same
Taking BP meds79.9%77.3–82.2%77.4%about the same
No health insurance10.2%8.8–11.7%8.9%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely32.8%28–37.5%32.8%about the same
Lack emotional support23.4%20.1–26.7%23.2%about the same
Frequent mental distress17.8%15.9–19.7%17.6%about the same
Fair or poor health22.6%20.1–25.4%20.6%about the same
Frequent physical distress15.2%13.6–17.1%13.8%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity14.9%12.8–17.2%14.7%about the same
Housing insecurity11%9.4–12.7%11.2%about the same
Utility shut-off threat7.9%6.9–9.1%8.4%about the same
No reliable transportation7.7%6.8–8.7%7.7%about the same
Receive SNAP8.6%7.3–10%8.6%
Disability
Any disability33.3%29.4–37.5%31.1%
Walking or climbing stairs16.1%14.3–18.2%14.2%
Thinking or memory15.6%14–17.4%15%
Hearing8.3%7.5–9.2%7.1%
Vision5.5%5–6%5%
Dressing or bathing4.1%3.7–4.5%3.7%
Errands alone8.8%7.9–9.8%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 West door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Indiana figure falls inside it, we don't call West better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like West by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover West 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