Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Downs is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns
Downs differs from Illinois on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Downs. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Downs
Downs is an active town
Only 14.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Stroke and diabetes are less common in Downs
Downs runs below Illinois on four chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.1% vs 3.3%), diabetes (7.5% vs 11.7%) and COPD (4.2% vs 6.3%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%). Conditions ↓
Nearly everyone in Downs is insured
Only 4.5% 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 Downs’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Downs’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Downs is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 98% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 69%.
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). Downs’ median household income is $110,625; among the 7,047 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$138K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Downs adults…
Downs runs below IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Downs residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Downs adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Downs
No hospital or community health center in Downs 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 Downs; ≈ 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).
How Downs adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Downs does better than Illinois.
3 in 10 Downs 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.
6.3% of Downs adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Downs and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downs | A | 33.5% | 7.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Old Town Township | A | 34% | 8.9% | 10.1% | ZIP codes |
| Downs Township | — | — | — | — |
Downs Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Downs adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Downs
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Downs is better than Illinois on 16 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Downs’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Downs | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.6%9.4–14.2 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.6%8–11.4 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.5–17.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.5%26.5–41.2 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.5%6.2–9 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.2%24.3–32.5 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%29.4–38 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.5%18.5–25 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.6–4.8 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.2%3.4–5.2 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%1.8–2.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.3%3.3–5.4 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%7.4–13.1 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 14.8%11.5–18.9 | 23% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20.8%17.3–24.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.3%26–39.3 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.5%3.3–6 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.4%73.5–81 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.6%68–74.9 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%87.2–91.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.6%67.6–75.3 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.8%56.3–67.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%69.2–84.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.1%18.7–25.9 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%24.9–35 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.5%16.9–24.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%5.2–9.6 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.2%5.4–9.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%3.6–5.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%3.6–5.5 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.3%4.3–8.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.3%16.6–24.6 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.8%6.3–9.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.9%8.2–12 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.1–5.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.6%2.2–3.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.2%4.3–6.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.7–2.5 | 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 Downs
Is Downs a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Downs is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Downs?
CDC estimates 33.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.5% and 41.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Downs?
St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Downs’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Downs have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.3–6%), 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 Downs more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Downs.
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.