Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, East Alton is healthier than 59%
East Alton trails Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Alton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Alton
COPD, arthritis and depression run high in East Alton
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.2%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.3%), vs 24.2% across Illinois. Depression is also above the state: 23.9%, vs 19.8% across Illinois. In all, East Alton runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in East Alton
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.5%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
In East Alton, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 9.2% of working-age adults are uninsured (Illinois 9.9%), yet 22.5% say their health is fair or poor, vs 18.6% across the state. Checkups ↓
East Alton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, East Alton is healthier than 24%. Against the 5,318 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 59%. Health Grade ↓
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 East Alton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind East Alton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Alton is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #675 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 47% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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). East Alton’s median household income is $48,815; among the 5,318 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$61K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 East Alton adults…
East Alton runs above IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of East Alton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near East Alton
No hospital or community health center in East Alton 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 East Alton; ≈ 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 East Alton adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, East Alton runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 East Alton 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.
17.8% of East Alton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
East Alton and the towns around it
East Alton’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Alton | C− | 41% | 12.3% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Alton Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Alton | D | 44.3% | 14.7% | 17.8% | CDC place |
| Wood River Township | C+ | 39.8% | 11.8% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Rosewood Heights | B− | 38% | 11.7% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Wood River | B− | 39.2% | 10.8% | 15.4% | CDC place |
Alton Township: the same community as Alton, graded once. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Alton adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Alton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Alton is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside East Alton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Alton | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.3–25.7 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.7–17.9 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.1–21.8 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%34–47.8 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.5–14.2 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%32.9–40.9 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%32.5–40.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.3%25.8–32.5 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.3–8 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.2%7.9–10.6 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.1%13.1–19.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.5%14.6–20.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.5–30.6 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%15.2–21.8 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%30.8–44.2 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.3–11.6 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%73–80.2 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.5%55.5–63.5 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.2–86.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72.1–78.3 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.2%54.3–65.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.3%61.1–78.3 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.3–27.5 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.5%30.5–40.8 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%23.5–31.6 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.1%14.9–21.5 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.3%11.9–16.8 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.6–10.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%7.9–10.6 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.8%14.5–21.2 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35%30.3–39.7 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%14–18.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%13.9–18.3 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.6 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.7–11.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.9–5.1 | 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 East Alton
Is East Alton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Alton is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #675 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 East Alton?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 47.8%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Alton?
Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, 2.8 miles in a straight line from East Alton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Alton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–11.6%), 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 East Alton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in East Alton.
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.