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Health in Columbus · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Columbus residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Columbus, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Columbus

Binge drinking is the habit Columbus doesn’t win on

21.8% of adults binge drink, vs 17.8% across Illinois. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓

Fewer Columbus adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 Columbus’ likely range.

★ What stands out · Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 20.6%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 36.1%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 21.8%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 13%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Columbus, betterColumbus, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Columbus gets moving

0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
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 9
Columbus adults worry about having enough food
10.7% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 11
Columbus adults worry about keeping their housing
9.4% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 17
Columbus adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.8% · IL 7.8%
Better than IL
1 in 16
Columbus adults lack reliable transportation
6.2% · IL 8%
Better than IL

9.5% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Columbus adults…

Columbus runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Columbus adults have diabetes
Illinois: 12 in 100 · better · likely 8.2–11.3%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Getting care

Care in and near Columbus

No hospital or community health center in Columbus itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERBlessing HospitalQuincy · 13.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBlessing Hospital★★★★★ · 13.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouthern Illinois University School of MedicineQuincy · 11.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.3 mi
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
3 sites · nearest in Quincy
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
12.1 mi
Preferred Family Healthcare, Incorporated
5 sites · nearest in Quincy
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
13.9 mi
Blessing Hospital
Quincy · ★★★★★
ER
26.3 mi
Hannibal Regional Hospital
Hannibal · ★★★★★
ER
29.2 mi
Memorial Hospital
Carthage · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
31.5 mi
Illini Community Hospital
Pittsfield · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Columbus itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Columbus itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Columbus itself

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 Columbus; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

76%Yearly checkupIL 78%
63%Dentist visitIL 63%
86%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
67%Colon screeningIL 60%
74%MammogramIL 74%
74%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Columbus 8% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How Columbus adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3Columbus adults feel lonely
32.3% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Columbus adults lack social or emotional support
23.3% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 5Columbus adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.7% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6Columbus adults are in frequent mental distress
16.2% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Columbus adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Columbus and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

27.3%

of Columbus adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs11.4%
Thinking or memory12.6%
Hearing6.9%
Errands alone6.9%
Vision3.8%
Dressing or bathing2.9%
Illinois

Questions about health in Columbus

Why doesn’t Columbus have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Columbus.

What hospital is closest to Columbus?

Blessing Hospital in Quincy, 13.9 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbus.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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. 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.