Within Illinois, Berkeley is healthier than 42% of graded towns
Berkeley differs from Illinois on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Berkeley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Berkeley
Making ends meet is harder in Berkeley
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (23.9%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Housing insecurity (19.8% vs 13.2%) and utility shut-off threats (10.9% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 19.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Berkeley
57.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 13% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Berkeley has no health insurance
14.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Illinois. Checkups ↓
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 Berkeley’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Berkeley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Berkeley is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #447 of 767 in Illinois. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 76% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Berkeley’s median household income is $85,823; among the 10,325 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 53%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.6% of Berkeley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Berkeley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 Berkeley adults…
Berkeley runs below IL on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Berkeley
No hospital or community health center in Berkeley itself. These are the nearest.
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 Berkeley; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Berkeley adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Berkeley runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Berkeley 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.
Berkeley and the towns around it
Berkeley’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | B | 34.1% | 13.4% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| Hillside | B | 34.1% | 13.4% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Bellwood | C+ | 38.9% | 16% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| Northlake | B− | 31.7% | 12.9% | 12% | CDC place |
| York Township | A | 28.5% | 10.5% | 9% | ZIP codes |
| Proviso Township | B+ | 32.6% | 12.6% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
| Melrose Park | C+ | 34.6% | 13.2% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Elmhurst | A+ | 27.9% | 8.5% | 7.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Berkeley adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Berkeley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Berkeley is better than Illinois on 2 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Berkeley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Berkeley | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%19.6–24.4 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.4–14.1 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.8–17 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%30.6–37.6 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%12–15 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 33.6%31.1–36.1 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.8%32.1–37.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.7%20.6–24.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9.1–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.6–15.6 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.6–14 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.6%23.5–29.9 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%15.1–19.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.6%35–42.4 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.7%12.6–17.1 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%75.6–80.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.6–61 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.1%86.6–89.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%73.2–78.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.1%55.2–62.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%70.3–80.8 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.6%15.6–19.7 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 36%32.8–39.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.1%27–33.1 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.9%21–26.7 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.8%17.4–22.1 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.9%9.5–12.3 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.4–12 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.6%16.9–22.4 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.1%26.1–32.1 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.7–16 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.9–15.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.4–6.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.4–9.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 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 Berkeley
Is Berkeley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Berkeley is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #447 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 53%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Berkeley?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.6% and 37.6%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Berkeley?
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Berkeley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Berkeley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.6–17.1%), 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 Berkeley more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Berkeley.
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.