Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Crete is healthier than 31%
Crete differs from Illinois on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Crete. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Crete
Against towns with similar incomes, Crete’s lead shrinks
Crete is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns, but 31% of the 8,992 towns with similar household incomes ($73K–$121K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Obesity, arthritis and high blood pressure run high in Crete
2 in 5 adults have obesity (41.3%), vs 34% across Illinois. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (28.8%), vs 24.2% across Illinois. High blood pressure is also above the state: 38.9%, vs 33% across Illinois. In all, Crete runs above Illinois on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Crete, and more people treating it
38.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Illinois 33%), but 80.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Crete keeps up with checkups
It beats Illinois on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (80.9% vs 77.8%) and cholesterol checks (89.4% vs 87.4%). 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 Crete’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Crete’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Crete is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns, #478 of 767 in Illinois. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 73% 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). Crete’s median household income is $97,147; among the 8,992 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$121K), it’s healthier than 31%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Crete adults…
Crete runs above IL on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Crete adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Crete
No hospital or community health center in Crete 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 Crete; ≈ 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 habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
2.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Crete adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Crete 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.
13.9% of Crete adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Crete and the towns around it
Crete has the best Health Grade of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crete | B− | 41.3% | 13.2% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Steger | C− | 40.3% | 13.2% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| University Park | C | 48% | 14.2% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Goodenow | — | — | — | — | |
| Bloom Township | C | 38.3% | 15.2% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Crete Township | B− | 40.4% | 13.3% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
Goodenow: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Crete adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Crete
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Crete is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Crete’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Crete | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.7%17.3–22.3 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14–17.8 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.3%35.7–47.2 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.5–15.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.9%35.2–42.7 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32.4–40 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.8–32 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.7 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.6–14.6 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%10.4–14.1 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%22.2–30.1 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.7–19.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.2%34.7–45.8 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.7–9.2 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.9%77.9–83.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.2%60.6–67.9 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.4%87.9–90.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%77.8–83.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.3%60.4–70.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.9%65.1–80 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.3%15.5–21.2 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.2%29.7–38.7 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.7%23.2–30.4 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.5–16.9 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.1%11.1–14.9 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.4%7.2–9.6 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%6.9–8.9 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.9%11.7–16.1 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.6%25–32.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.7%12.9–16.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.7–13.8 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Crete
Is Crete a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Crete is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #478 of 767 in Illinois. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Crete?
CDC estimates 41.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 47.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Crete?
Franciscan Health Dyer in Dyer, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Crete’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Crete have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.2%), 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 Crete 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 Crete.
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.