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–Not graded
Health in Dawson · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Dawson residents get care

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

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Dawson

Fewer Dawson 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 ↓

Nearly everyone in Dawson is insured

Only 6.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Illinois. 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 Dawson’s likely range.

★ What stands out · 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
Dawson adults worry about having enough food
11.1% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 10
Dawson adults worry about keeping their housing
9.7% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 16
Dawson adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.1% · IL 7.8%
Better than IL
1 in 16
Dawson adults lack reliable transportation
6.4% · IL 8%
Better than IL

10.4% of Dawson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupIL 78%
64%Dentist visitIL 63%
87%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
65%Colon screeningIL 60%
70%MammogramIL 74%
75%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Dawson 6.5% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Dawson adults…

Dawson runs above IL on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Dawson adults have had cancer
Illinois: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 7.7–9.6%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Getting care

Care in and near Dawson

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

HNearest ERMemorial Medical CenterSpringfield · 9.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMemorial Medical Center★★★★★ · 9.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouthern Illinois University School of MedicineSpringfield · 7.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.5 mi
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
4 sites · nearest in Springfield
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
9.4 mi
Central Counties Health Centers
4 sites · nearest in Springfield
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
9.8 mi
Memorial Medical Center
Springfield · ★★★★★
ER
10.2 mi
St. Johns Hospital
Springfield · ★★★★★
ER
21.1 mi
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
Lincoln · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
22.5 mi
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
Taylorville · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Dawson itself
✓ Dental careDawson is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Dawson 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 Dawson; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 20.2%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.1%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 19.8%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 13.7%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Dawson, betterDawson, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Dawson gets moving

0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Dawson adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3Dawson adults feel lonely
33.5% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Dawson adults lack social or emotional support
23.3% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Dawson adults have been diagnosed with depression
23% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6Dawson adults are in frequent mental distress
17.5% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Dawson 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

Dawson 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.

27.7%

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

Walking or climbing stairs11.9%
Thinking or memory13.2%
Hearing6.4%
Errands alone7.5%
Vision3.9%
Dressing or bathing3.1%
Illinois

Questions about health in Dawson

Why doesn’t Dawson have a Health Grade?

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

What hospital is closest to Dawson?

Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, 9.8 miles in a straight line from Dawson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

Where can I get low-cost care near Dawson?

5 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Siu Medicine North Dirksen Express Care in Springfield, 7.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.

Neighbors talk health

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

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.