Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Centralia is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Centralia differs from Illinois on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Centralia. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Centralia
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Centralia
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.1%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.3% across Illinois. In all, Centralia runs above Illinois on ten of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Centralia
54.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 19.1% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Centralia
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.5%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Centralia is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Centralia is healthier than 12%. Against the 4,946 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 34%. 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 Centralia’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Centralia’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Centralia is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #743 of 767 in Illinois. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 21% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Centralia’s median household income is $47,807; among the 4,946 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Centralia compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Centralia adults…
Centralia runs above IL on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Centralia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
13 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Care in and near Centralia
1 hospital in Centralia, 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 Centralia; ≈ 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 Centralia adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Centralia runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Centralia 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.
22.5% of Centralia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Centralia and the towns around it
Centralia’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | D | 41.4% | 15.2% | 18.5% | CDC place |
| Wamac | — | — | — | — | |
| Central City | D− | 46.7% | 16.6% | 26.7% | CDC place |
| Centralia Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Brookside Township | D | 41.7% | 14.4% | 18.4% | ZIP 62801 |
Wamac: fewer than 1,000 residents. Centralia Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Centralia adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Centralia
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Centralia is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Centralia’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Centralia | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%22.8–28.7 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15–18.7 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%17–21 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.4%34.1–49.4 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.4–17.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.1%37.2–45.1 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.8–42.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%29.3–35.8 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.9–10.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%8.2–9.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.1%9.9–12.4 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.1%16.4–22.2 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.5%16.2–20.9 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.4%26.1–35 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.4–18.8 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%32.2–44.8 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.4–11.4 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%76.1–82.2 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.7%51–58.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%83.3–86.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.6–81.3 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62%57.2–66.6 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%61.1–76.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20.1–26.8 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%29.9–39.5 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.8%22.3–29.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.6%18–23.2 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15%13.1–16.9 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.6%9.5–11.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.5%19.9–25.4 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6%33.4–41.9 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%17.3–21.9 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%15–18.7 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.5–7.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.5–12.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.6%5.2–6.2 | 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 Centralia
Is Centralia a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Centralia is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #743 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Centralia?
CDC estimates 41.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 49.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Centralia?
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital -Centralia in Centralia, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Centralia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Centralia have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–11.4%), 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 Centralia more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Centralia.
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.