Where Buffalo Prairie residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Buffalo Prairie, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 61279, 61237. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo Prairie
Cancer and heart disease run high in Buffalo Prairie
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.1%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Buffalo Prairie runs above Illinois on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Buffalo Prairie adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Buffalo Prairie is insured
Only 6.8% 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 Buffalo Prairie’s likely range; Buffalo Prairie’s figures come from ZIP codes 61279, 61237, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Buffalo Prairie adults…
Buffalo Prairie runs above IL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of Buffalo Prairie adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo Prairie adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Buffalo Prairie
No hospital or community health center in Buffalo Prairie 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 Buffalo Prairie; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Buffalo Prairie adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Buffalo Prairie 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.
Buffalo Prairie and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Buffalo Prairie adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Buffalo Prairie
Why doesn’t Buffalo Prairie have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Buffalo Prairie.
What hospital is closest to Buffalo Prairie?
Genesis Medical Center, Aledo in Aledo, 10.5 miles in a straight line from Buffalo Prairie’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo Prairie.
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. 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.