Photo: Illinois2011 · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Alton is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Alton trails Illinois on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alton
COPD, stroke and obesity run high in Alton
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.3% across Illinois. Obesity is also above the state: 44.3%, vs 34% across Illinois. In all, Alton runs above Illinois on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Alton
55.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 18.8% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Alton
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.4%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Utility shut-off threats (12.6% vs 7.8%) and no reliable transportation (11.7% vs 8%) are higher too. 24.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Alton has a top-rated hospital
Alton Memorial Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Illinois figure falls outside Alton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Alton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alton is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #741 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 30% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Alton’s median household income is $54,568; among the 7,284 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 23%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Alton adults…
Alton runs above IL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Alton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.9% of Alton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Care in and near Alton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Alton, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Alton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
8.1 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
How Alton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Alton runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Alton adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Alton and the towns around it
Alton’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | D | 44.3% | 14.7% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| Alton Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Wood River Township | C+ | 39.8% | 11.8% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Godfrey | B+ | 37% | 11.7% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| East Alton | C− | 41% | 12.3% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Foster Township | C | 40.8% | 13% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
Alton Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alton adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alton is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Alton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alton | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25%22.1–28 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.4–18.2 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.4–21.9 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.3%37.4–51.4 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.8–16.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.6%36.5–44.8 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%32.5–40.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3%27–33.6 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.2–8.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.4 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.7–10.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.2–4.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.8%15.5–22.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15.5–20.3 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%24.2–33 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.4–19.2 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.1%33.5–47.1 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%8.1–11 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.7%75.1–81.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.3%51.2–59.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%82.9–86.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%73.9–79.5 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%57–67.6 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.9%63.1–79.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%19.6–26.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.8%30.9–40.8 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.3%24.6–32 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.4%20.7–26.2 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.2%16.1–20.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.6%11.1–14.1 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.7%10.5–13 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.9%22.3–27.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%32.5–41.3 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%16.2–20.5 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.6–18.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6.3–7.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.2%10–12.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%5–6 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Illinois figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alton
Is Alton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alton is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #741 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alton?
CDC estimates 44.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.4% and 51.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alton?
Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Alton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–11%), against 9.9% across Illinois.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Alton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Illinois figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.