Mary's River Covered Bridge · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Chester is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Chester differs from Illinois on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chester
Smoking is more common in Chester
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.2%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Chester
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.9%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Utility shut-off threats (13.8% vs 7.8%) and no reliable transportation (13% vs 8%) are higher too. 25.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Chester
49.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 13% 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 Chester’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Chester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #737 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 31% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Chester’s median household income is $80,625; among the 10,711 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$101K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Chester compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
2.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.9% of Chester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 Chester adults…
Chester runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Chester
1 hospital in Chester, 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 Chester; ≈ 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 Chester adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Chester runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Chester 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.
Chester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | D | 43.2% | 13.4% | 21.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chester adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chester is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Chester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chester | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.2%22.7–29.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.3–17.2 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.8–21.4 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.2%34.2–52.4 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.5–15.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%34.7–44 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.9%30.4–39.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.8%21.7–28.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.8–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6.1–7.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.1–7.8 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.4–9.6 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.5–15.9 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2%18–24.3 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%24.9–35 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 19.1%15.6–22.9 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.5%35–50.5 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.3%12.7–18 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.6%70.3–78.6 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.1%45.2–53.2 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.9%78.3–83.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.1%67.5–74.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.3%49.8–60.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%61.1–78.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.2%17–23.8 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.2%31.8–43.2 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.1%27.9–36.8 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.9%22–29.8 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.6%17.7–23.6 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%11.9–15.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.2–15 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.9%22–29.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4%30.4–40.3 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.7%13.4–17.9 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.1–19.8 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.3–8.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6–7.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 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 Chester
Is Chester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chester is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #737 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chester?
CDC estimates 43.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.2% and 52.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chester?
Memorial Hospital in Chester, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Chester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Chester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.7–18%), 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 Chester more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chester.
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.