Photo: Bradley Furlow · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Carbondale is healthier than 97%
Carbondale differs from Illinois on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carbondale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carbondale
Carbondale is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Carbondale is healthier than 49%. Against the 812 towns with similar household incomes ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Carbondale
1 in 7 adults lack reliable transportation (14.1%), vs 8% across Illinois. Food insecurity (24.3% vs 15.9%) and utility shut-off threats (12.9% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 25.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Carbondale
54.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 12.8% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Carbondale
Carbondale runs below Illinois on six chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.1% vs 7.6%), arthritis (19.4% vs 24.2%) and high cholesterol (28.7% vs 35.4%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Carbondale’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Carbondale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carbondale is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns, #492 of 767 in Illinois. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Carbondale’s median household income is $32,128; among the 812 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($24K–$40K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Carbondale compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 28.7% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 19.4% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.1% (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.
25.2% of Carbondale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Carbondale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 Carbondale adults…
Carbondale runs below IL on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Carbondale residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Carbondale
1 hospital and 3 community health centers in Carbondale, 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 Carbondale; ≈ 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.
11 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves
How Carbondale adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Carbondale runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 Carbondale 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.
Carbondale and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale | B− | 40.1% | 9.9% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Murphysboro Township | C | 42.3% | 13.9% | 16.4% | ZIP codes |
| Carbondale Township | — | — | — | — |
Carbondale Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carbondale adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carbondale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carbondale is better than Illinois on 6 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Carbondale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carbondale | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.3–23.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.9–14.2 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.3–23.4 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.1%32–48.7 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.7%26.1–33.6 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.7%25–32.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.4%17–22 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.7–5.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.6–7 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.8%10.7–15.4 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11.6–15.7 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.8%20.6–29.6 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.5–21.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%32.5–46.8 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.3–11.4 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%71.8–79.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.3%50.4–58.2 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.3%74.6–79.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.3%64.7–69.8 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.5%55.3–65.7 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.3%64.1–79.6 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.4%19.8–27.4 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.5%33–44.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%22.6–30.3 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.3%21.3–27.6 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.5%15.2–19.9 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11.4–14.6 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.1%12.5–15.9 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.2%22.3–28.3 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%27.6–36.9 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%10.1–13.2 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.8–20.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.8–7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.4 | 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 Carbondale
Is Carbondale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carbondale is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #492 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 Carbondale?
CDC estimates 40.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 48.7%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carbondale?
Memorial Hospital of Carbondale in Carbondale, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Carbondale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carbondale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–11.4%), 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 Carbondale 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 Carbondale.
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.