30 hospitals and 24 community health centers are inside Chicago. Rush University Medical Center is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of two five-star hospitals in town. Getting care ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Chicago
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.4%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Utility shut-off threats (11.9% vs 7.8%) and housing insecurity (19.7% vs 13.2%) are higher too. 21.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Chicago has no health insurance
13.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Illinois. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Chicago
Grades next door run from Park Ridge (A+) to Calumet Township (D). Chicago is a B+. Around town ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in Chicago
Chicago runs below Illinois on cancer (5% vs 7.6%), arthritis (19.6% vs 24.2%) and heart disease (4.8% vs 5.9%). 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 Chicago’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Health Grade
What’s behind Chicago’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chicago is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #365 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 83% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 37%).
C+Self-rated health21.1% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress11.8% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress16% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
B+Obesity32.6% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
A−Smoking11.9% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise24.7% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 67%
Less healthyHealthier
Illinois towns we grade (767)Healthier than 52%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $58K–$97K (10,831)Healthier than 76%
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). Chicago’s median household income is $77,902; among the 10,831 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$97K), it’s healthier than 76%, about where its income would put it.
At 2,731,585 residents, Chicago is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Chicago could be anywhere from B− to A−. For a city of 2,201,215 adults, CDC’s ranges are narrow (obesity 29.2–35.8%).
! Primary carePart of Chicago is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Chicago 40 Washington Park · need score 20 of 25
! Dental carePart of Chicago is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Riverdale · need score 25 of 25
! Mental healthPart of Chicago is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Chicago North West · need score 17 of 25
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 Chicago; ≈ 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 needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 4
Chicago adults worry about having enough food
24.4% · IL 15.9%
Worse than IL
1 in 5
Chicago adults worry about keeping their housing
19.7% · IL 13.2%
Worse than IL
1 in 8
Chicago adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
11.9% · IL 7.8%
Worse than IL
1 in 9
Chicago adults lack reliable transportation
11.6% · IL 8%
Worse than IL
21.9% of Chicago adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Checkups & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Chicago adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Yearly checkupIL 78%
Dentist visitIL 63%
Cholesterol checkIL 87%
Colon screeningIL 60%
MammogramIL 74%
Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Chicago 13.6% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Chicago adults…
Chicago runs below IL on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
5 of every 100 Chicago adults have had cancer
Illinois: 8 in 100 · better · likely 4.6–5.5%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Around town
Chicago and the towns around it
Chicago’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 11 graded towns around it.
Healthier than ILNear ILLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#36 of 48 towns on this map, healthiest first
Niles Township24.4%
Park Ridge24.8%
Niles25.3%
Maine Township26.1%
Elk Grove Township26.7%
Des Plaines26.8%
Rosemont29.6%
Schiller Park30%
Leyden Township31.2%
Worth Township31.4%
Stickney Township31.9%
Chicago32.6%
Calumet Township42.5%
IL34%
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Disability
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
27.6%
of Chicago adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs13%
Thinking or memory13.8%
Hearing4.8%
Errands alone8.5%
Vision6.2%
Dressing or bathing4.3%
Illinois
Every CDC estimate for Chicago
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chicago is better than Illinois on 6 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Chicago’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
Adults who…
Chicago
IL
U.S.
vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health
21.1%19.3–22.8
18.6%
19.4%
Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)
11.8%10.7–12.9
12.2%
13%
About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)
16%14.5–17.5
15.6%
15.9%
About the same
Conditions
Obesity
32.6%29.2–35.8
34%
32.9%
About the same
Diabetes
12%10.8–13.1
11.7%
12%
About the same
High blood pressure
29.7%27.4–31.8
33%
34.4%
Better
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)
31.6%29.1–34
35.4%
37.1%
Better
Arthritis
19.6%17.8–21.3
24.2%
25.3%
Better
Asthma
10.2%9.1–11.2
9.9%
9.9%
About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer
5%4.6–5.5
7.6%
7.9%
Better
Coronary heart disease
4.8%4.4–5.3
5.9%
6.4%
Better
COPD
5.5%5–6.1
6.3%
6.3%
Better
Stroke
3.3%3–3.5
3.3%
3.4%
About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)
14.6%12.3–17.1
10.3%
12.3%
Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes
11.9%10.5–13.1
12.1%
11.8%
About the same
No exercise outside work
24.7%22.2–27.1
23%
24.7%
About the same
Binge drinking
19%16.9–21.1
17.8%
15.4%
About the same
Sleep under 7 hours
37.8%34.2–41.4
35.4%
36%
About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)
13.6%12.3–15
9.9%
11%
Worse
Checkup in the past year
76.2%73.4–78.6
77.8%
77.4%
About the same
Dentist visit in the past year
58.4%55.3–61.3
63.4%
63.2%
Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years
86.2%84.7–87.6
87.4%
87.1%
About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)
72.5%69.9–74.7
75.7%
76.5%
Worse
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)
55.8%51.9–59.6
60.2%
65.5%
Worse
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)
74.2%68.5–79.2
73.5%
76.4%
About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression
19.1%16.9–21.3
19.8%
20.6%
About the same
Feel lonely
35.8%32.7–38.9
33.5%
32.5%
About the same
Lack social and emotional support
28.2%25.6–31
25.4%
23.6%
Worse
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food
24.4%22.5–26.2
15.9%
15%
Worse
Worried about keeping housing
19.7%17.9–21.5
13.2%
12%
Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off
11.9%10.7–13.2
7.8%
7.6%
Worse
Lack reliable transportation
11.6%10.5–12.8
8%
7.9%
Worse
Received SNAP (food stamps)
21.9%19.9–23.9
13.8%
11.6%
Higher
Disability
Any disability
27.6%25.2–29.9
27.6%
30.1%
About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs
13%11.8–14.1
12.8%
13.6%
About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering
13.8%12.4–15
12.6%
13.9%
About the same
Hearing difficulty
4.8%4.3–5.3
6.2%
6.7%
Lower
Vision difficulty
6.2%5.8–6.7
4.8%
5.4%
Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone
8.5%7.8–9.3
7.6%
7.9%
Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing
4.3%4–4.6
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 Chicago
Is Chicago a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chicago is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #365 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 76%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chicago?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 35.8%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chicago?
Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Chicago’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Chicago have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.3–15%), 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 Chicago more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chicago.
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.
Photo: File:Chicago River ferry.jpg: John Picken derivative work: Georgfotoart · CC BY 2.0