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≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Dorchester Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Dorchester Township is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns

Dorchester Township differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 8 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 62014, 62088, 62033, 62093. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Dorchester Township

COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Dorchester Township

1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.9%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.5%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Dorchester Township runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Smoking is more common in Dorchester Township

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.6%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓

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 Dorchester Township’s likely range; Dorchester Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 62014, 62088, 62033, 62093, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Dorchester Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dorchester Township is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 59% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 42%).

B−Self-rated health19.8% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
C+Physical distress14.5% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress17.3% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.6% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12.4% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking15.6% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise24.3% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 47%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $52K–$86K (10,415)Healthier than 61%

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). Dorchester Township’s median household income is $68,690; among the 10,415 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.

Where Dorchester Township compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 7.4% (U.S. 11%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Dorchester Township could be anywhere from D to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 62014,62088,62033,62093), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Dorchester Township adults…

Dorchester Township runs above IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Dorchester Township adults have COPD
Illinois: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.5–10%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 24.3%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.5%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 17.6%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 15.6%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Dorchester Township, betterDorchester Township, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Dorchester Township gets moving

1.7 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Dorchester Township

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

HNearest ERCommunity Hospital of StauntonStaunton · 4.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyAlton Memorial Hospital★★★★★ · 19.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouthern Illinois Healthcare FoundationBunker Hill · 4.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
4.3 mi
Community Hospital of Staunton
Staunton · not rated
ERRural critical access
4.9 mi
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
3 sites · nearest in Bunker Hill
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
6.2 mi
Macoupin, County of
5 sites · nearest in Gillespie
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15.1 mi
St. Francis Hospital
Litchfield · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
16 mi
OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center
Alton · ★★★★★
16.4 mi
Carlinville Area Hospital
Carlinville · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Dorchester Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Dorchester Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Dorchester Township 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 Dorchester Township; ≈ 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 Dorchester Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

79%Yearly checkupIL 78%
62%Dentist visitIL 63%
87%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
63%Colon screeningIL 60%
71%MammogramIL 74%
78%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Dorchester Township 7.4% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How Dorchester Township adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3Dorchester Township adults feel lonely
32.5% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Dorchester Township adults lack social or emotional support
24.3% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Dorchester Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.9% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6Dorchester Township adults are in frequent mental distress
17.3% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Dorchester Township 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.

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 8
Dorchester Township adults worry about having enough food
13% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 10
Dorchester Township adults worry about keeping their housing
10.4% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 15
Dorchester Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.7% · IL 7.8%
About the same as IL
1 in 14
Dorchester Township adults lack reliable transportation
7.1% · IL 8%
About the same as IL

12.8% of Dorchester Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Around town

Dorchester Township and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Gillespie Township: 37.1%Bunker Hill Township: 36.1%Dorchester: 34.3%Staunton Township: 37.8%Cahokia Township: 37.8%Hillyard Township: 36.6%Brushy Mound Township: 37%Benld: 38%Mount Clare: 34.1%Brighton Township: 37.5%Moro Township: 36.9%Mount Olive Township: 37.8%Walshville Township: 37.9%Olive Township: 38%Dorchester Township: 36.6%Dorchester TownshipGillespie TownshipBunker Hill TownshipDorchesterStaunton TownshipCommunity Hospital of Staunton · Staunton · 4.3 miHSt. Francis Hospital · Litchfield · 15.1 mi · 2★ MedicareHOSF Saint Anthony's Health Center · Alton · 16 mi · 4★ MedicareHSihf Healthcare - Bunker Hill · Bunker Hill · 4.9 mi+Macoupin County Maple Street Clinic · Gillespie · 6.2 mi+
Healthier than ILNear ILLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#4 of 15 towns on this map, healthiest first
Dorchester34.3%
Bunker Hill Township36.1%
Dorchester Township36.6%
Gillespie Township37.1%
Staunton Township37.8%
IL34%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Dorchester TownshipB−36.6%12.4%15.6%ZIP codes
Gillespie Township————
Bunker Hill TownshipB−36.1%12.2%15.1%ZIP codes
Dorchester————
Staunton Township————

Gillespie Township and Staunton Township: not graded. Dorchester: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

32%

of Dorchester Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs15.4%
Thinking or memory14.1%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone8.7%
Vision4.9%
Dressing or bathing4%
Illinois

Every CDC estimate for Dorchester Township

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dorchester Township is better than Illinois on 3 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Dorchester Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Dorchester TownshipILU.S.vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health19.8%16.9–22.818.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14.5%12.6–16.512.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.3%15.2–19.515.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity36.6%28.7–45.334%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.4%10.6–14.311.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure37.6%33.2–42.233%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.5%33.9–43.335.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30.2%26.6–3424.2%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.6%9.4–129.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.9%8.9–10.97.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.5%6.6–8.35.9%6.4%Worse
COPD8.7%7.5–106.3%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.9%3.5–4.33.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.9%10.3–15.710.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.6%13–18.312.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work24.3%19.8–2923%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking17.6%14.5–21.217.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35.5%28.3–43.135.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.4%6–9.19.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year78.6%74.9–82.177.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year61.6%57.6–65.763.4%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.3%85.3–8987.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77.8%74.6–80.875.7%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)63%57.4–68.360.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71.4%62.4–79.173.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression22.9%19.3–26.819.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.5%27.4–38.133.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support24.3%20.6–28.325.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13%10.7–15.515.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing10.4%8.7–12.313.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.7%5.7–7.97.8%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.1%6.1–8.28%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)12.8%10.4–15.213.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability32%27.3–36.627.6%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs15.4%13.1–17.812.8%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.1%12.2–1612.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.1%7.1–96.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.9%4.3–5.54.8%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.7%7.6–9.97.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.5–4.43.5%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 Dorchester Township

Is Dorchester Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dorchester Township is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Dorchester Township?

CDC estimates 36.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 45.3%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Dorchester Township?

Community Hospital of Staunton in Staunton, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Dorchester Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Dorchester Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–9.1%), 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 Dorchester Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dorchester Township.

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. 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.