Photo: Johnnie Tran · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, DeKalb is healthier than 89%
DeKalb differs from Illinois on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for DeKalb. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in DeKalb
DeKalb is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, DeKalb is healthier than 47%. Against the 4,497 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in DeKalb
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.4%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. No reliable transportation (13.8% vs 8%) and utility shut-off threats (12.6% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 24.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in DeKalb
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.9%), vs 15.6% across Illinois. Depression is above the state too: 24.1%, vs 19.8% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
DeKalb has a five-star hospital
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in DeKalb
DeKalb runs below Illinois on five chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.7% vs 7.6%), arthritis (20.3% vs 24.2%) and diabetes (9.9% vs 11.7%). A young population is part of it: only 11% 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 DeKalb’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind DeKalb’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, DeKalb is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #506 of 767 in Illinois. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). DeKalb’s median household income is $46,481; among the 4,497 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where DeKalb compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 30.5% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 20.3% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.1% of DeKalb adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
How DeKalb adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, DeKalb runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 DeKalb 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.
Care in and near DeKalb
1 hospital and 1 community health center in DeKalb, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 DeKalb; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 DeKalb adults…
DeKalb runs below IL on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of DeKalb residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
7.6 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of DeKalb adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
DeKalb and the towns around it
DeKalb’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of DeKalb adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for DeKalb
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, DeKalb is better than Illinois on 6 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside DeKalb’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | DeKalb | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.7%19–24.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.4–14.7 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.5–23.5 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.3%29.7–46 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.6–11.5 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.6%25.8–33.8 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.5%26.7–34.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.3%17.8–23.2 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.2–6.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.6 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.5%5.8–7.4 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.2–15.3 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.2%12.1–16.5 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.8–30.9 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.5–22.8 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.1%29.7–44.3 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%10.3–14 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.6%70.5–78.8 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.6%52.5–60.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.8%76.3–81.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.3%64.2–70.4 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.7%56–66.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.5%63.4–80 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.4–28.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.1%31.9–42.5 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.4–31.2 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.4%21.5–27.4 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.3%16–20.6 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.6%11.1–14.1 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.8%12.3–15.3 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.1%21.4–26.9 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%28.8–38.1 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.6–14 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16–20.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.4 | 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 DeKalb
Is DeKalb a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, DeKalb is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #506 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 DeKalb?
CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 46%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to DeKalb?
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in Dekalb, 2.0 miles in a straight line from DeKalb’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in DeKalb have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–14%), 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 DeKalb more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in DeKalb.
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.