On CDC estimates, Cortland is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns
Cortland differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cortland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cortland
Binge drinking is the habit Cortland 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 ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Cortland
Cortland runs below Illinois on seven chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4% vs 5.9%), stroke (2.3% vs 3.3%) and diabetes (8.7% vs 11.7%). A young population is part of it: only 8% 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 Cortland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Cortland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cortland is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, #302 of 767 in Illinois. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 93% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Cortland’s median household income is $73,971; among the 10,826 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Cortland adults…
Cortland runs below IL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Cortland residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Cortland
No hospital or community health center in Cortland itself. These are the nearest.
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 Cortland; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Cortland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Cortland adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Cortland runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Cortland 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.
13.1% of Cortland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Cortland and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cortland adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cortland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cortland is better than Illinois on 7 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Cortland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cortland | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.3%13.8–19.1 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%9.8–13.1 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.8–20.6 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%28.3–44.8 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.7%7.4–10.1 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.4%23.7–31.7 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31%27–35.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20%17.3–23.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4%3.5–4.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.3–5.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2–2.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12%9.4–14.7 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.2%10.8–15.9 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.7%16.7–25.1 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.8%18–26.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4%28.1–42.6 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.5–11.2 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.2%69.6–78.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.7%61.8–69.3 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%82.5–87.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.2%64.2–72.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.7%53.9–64.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%66.6–82.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.5–27.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%28.8–39.3 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.5%21.8–29.8 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.6%12.2–17.5 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.1–15.5 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%6.7–9.3 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.7–9.1 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.1%10.7–15.8 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.5%21.5–30 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.6%8–11.2 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%11.7–16 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4–5.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.2–8.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Cortland
Is Cortland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cortland is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #302 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cortland?
CDC estimates 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.3% and 44.8%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cortland?
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in Dekalb, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Cortland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cortland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.2%), 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 Cortland 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 Cortland.
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.