Howard County Health Data
Howard County, Indiana
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
49/100
Below Avg
Life Expectancy
73.0 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.0%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
73.0 yr
State avg 75.1 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
7.0%
State avg 8.4%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
55
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
236
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
19.2%
State avg 18.9%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
9.6
per 100K residentsCDC: 55.0 per 100K
Dentists
2.4
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
4.8
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Howard County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 36.8% | 39.8% | 37.6% | 3.0 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 11.3% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 35.0% | 34.7% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 26.5% | 26.7% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 18.6% | 17.6% | 16.3% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 17.6% | 17.9% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 26.4% | 25.2% | 27.0% | 1.2 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 77.5% | 77.6% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 60.1% | 59.5% | 57.3% | 0.6 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 74.1% | 74.2% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 19.3% | 19.2% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 38.1% | 37.6% | 37.3% | near state average |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Howard County nationally on obesity.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Howard County life expectancy shorter than state and national averages
Health data brief for Howard County, Indiana.
Howard County records an average life expectancy of 73.0 years, which is shorter than the Indiana state average of 75.1 years and the national average of 77 years. While health outcomes lag these benchmarks, the county mental health provider ratio is 236 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national median of 250 per 100,000. However, the primary care provider ratio of 55 per 100,000 is lower than the national median of 70 per 100,000. Other data points show that 19.2% of residents report poor or fair health, compared to the national average of 17%. The uninsured rate in the county is 7.0%, which is lower than the state average of 8.4% and the national average of 10%. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Howard County, Indiana
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Community Howard Regional Health Inc.
ERAscension St Vincent Kokomo
EReHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.