Magnolia Manor · Photo: MuZemike · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Cairo is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Cairo differs from Illinois on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cairo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cairo
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Cairo
1 in 13 adults have had a stroke (7.6%), more than twice the Illinois rate. 1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.7%), about twice the Illinois rate. Diabetes is also above the state: 24.3%, vs 11.7% across Illinois. In all, Cairo runs above Illinois on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Cairo adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.5%), vs 23% across Illinois. There are 17 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Cairo
44.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 26% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). 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 Cairo’s likely range.
What’s behind Cairo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cairo is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 17% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Cairo’s median household income is $41,912; among the 2,995 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Cairo compares well: binge drinking, 11.1% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 83.7% (U.S. 77.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Cairo adults…
Cairo runs above IL on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
17 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Cairo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Cairo
1 community health center in Cairo, 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 Cairo; ≈ 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).
How Cairo adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Cairo runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Cairo 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
42.2% of Cairo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Cairo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | D− | 51.6% | 24.3% | 22.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cairo adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cairo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cairo is better than Illinois on 3 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Cairo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cairo | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 35.5%31.3–39.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.3–22.1 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.9–21.5 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 51.6%41.8–60.5 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 24.3%21.3–27.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 54.9%50–59.5 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.2%36.1–46 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.1%32.9–41.2 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 11.1%9.9–12.3 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.7%12.1–15.5 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26%21.7–31 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.4%19.2–25.8 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.5%33.7–45.6 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.1%8.8–13.5 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 46%38.5–54.1 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%10.2–14.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.7%80.5–86.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44.7%40.7–49.1 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.5–89.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.2%80.5–85.4 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.5%53.8–65.6 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68%62.9–73.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%15.9–22.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%31.6–42.9 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.1%28.6–37.9 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.8%32.1–41.3 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.7%23.3–30.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 20.3%17.7–22.9 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.4%15.2–19.6 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 42.2%37.3–46.9 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44%38.7–49.5 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.2%24.9–31.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%16.1–20.7 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.9–10 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.4%10.3–12.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.1%13.5–17.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 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 Cairo
Is Cairo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cairo is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cairo?
CDC estimates 51.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.8% and 60.5%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cairo?
Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, 23.6 miles in a straight line from Cairo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cairo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–14.6%), 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 Cairo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cairo.
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.