Joshua P. Young House · Photo: Burnhamandroot · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Blue Island is healthier than 58%
Blue Island differs from Illinois on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Blue Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Blue Island
Making ends meet is harder in Blue Island
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (31%), about twice the Illinois rate. Housing insecurity (25.3% vs 13.2%) and utility shut-off threats (14.3% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 26.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Blue Island
51.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 16.4% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
1 in 5 working-age adults in Blue Island has no health insurance
19.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Illinois. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Blue Island
Grades next door run from Chicago (B+) to Riverdale (D−). Blue Island is a C+. Around town ↓
Blue Island is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Blue Island is healthier than 36%. Against the 8,775 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$74K), it’s healthier than 58%. Health Grade ↓
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 Blue Island’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind Blue Island’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Blue Island is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #598 of 767 in Illinois. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 59% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Blue Island’s median household income is $59,489; among the 8,775 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$74K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Blue Island compares well: arthritis, 21.1% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
26.7% of Blue Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Blue Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Blue Island and the towns around it
Blue Island’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Island | C+ | 36.7% | 13.9% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Calumet Park | C | 40.2% | 17.1% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Alsip | B | 32.9% | 11.9% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Riverdale | D− | 46.2% | 20% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Robbins | D | 42.9% | 19.7% | 18% | CDC place |
| Chicago | B+ | 32.6% | 12% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Dixmoor | C− | 39.8% | 16.5% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Calumet Township | D | 42.5% | 17.2% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Blue Island adults…
Blue Island runs below IL on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Blue Island
2 community health centers in Blue Island, 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 Blue Island; ≈ 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.
0.6 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Blue Island adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Blue Island runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 Blue Island 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Blue Island adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Blue Island
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Blue Island is better than Illinois on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Blue Island’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Blue Island | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.8%23.5–28 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.5–15.2 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.4–18.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.7%33–40.2 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.4–15.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.3%29.8–34.6 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.1%30.5–35.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.1%19.1–22.9 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.4–5.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 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+) | 16.4%13.6–19.3 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%12.2–15.6 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30%26.8–33 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%15.6–19.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.9%37.2–44.6 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 19.4%17–21.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%73.4–78.5 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.9%48.6–55 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.8–87.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.8%70–75.3 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 52.5%48.6–56.4 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%65–76.7 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%16.4–20.7 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.5%34.3–40.7 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%28.5–34.4 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 31%28.4–33.8 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.3%23–27.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.3%12.7–15.9 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.6–15.5 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 26.7%24–29.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%29.1–34.8 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.9–16.9 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.3–17.6 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%6.9–8.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.8–10.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.7–5.6 | 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 Blue Island
Is Blue Island a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Blue Island is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #598 of 767 in Illinois. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Blue Island?
CDC estimates 36.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 33% and 40.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Blue Island?
Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, 3.7 miles in a straight line from Blue Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Blue Island have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 19.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 17–21.8%), 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 Blue Island more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Blue Island.
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.