Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, East Nelson Township is healthier than 20%
East Nelson Township differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 61951. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Nelson Township
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in East Nelson Township
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.5%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, East Nelson Township runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
East Nelson Township trails towns with similar incomes
East Nelson Township is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, and only 20% of the 7,938 towns with similar household incomes ($78K–$130K), so income alone doesn’t explain its grade. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in East Nelson Township
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.1%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Fewer East Nelson Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and utility bills all run below Illinois. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Nelson Township’s likely range; East Nelson Township’s figures come from ZIP code 61951, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind East Nelson Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Nelson Township is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 57% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 38%).
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 Nelson Township’s median household income is $104,375; among the 7,938 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 20%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Where East Nelson Township compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 8% (U.S. 11%); threatened with a utility shut-off, 6.4% (U.S. 7.6%).
Out of every 100 East Nelson Township adults…
East Nelson Township runs above IL on 5 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.
4.9 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.3% of East Nelson Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Care in and near East Nelson Township
No hospital or community health center in East Nelson Township 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 Nelson 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of East Nelson Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How East Nelson Township adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 East Nelson Township 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.
East Nelson Township and the towns around it
East Nelson Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Nelson Township | B− | 37.7% | 11.8% | 15.1% | ZIP 61951 |
| Sullivan Township | B− | 37.7% | 11.8% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Jonathan Creek Township | C+ | 37.8% | 11.8% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| North Okaw Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Whitley Township | — | — | — | — |
North Okaw Township: not graded. Whitley Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Nelson Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Nelson Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Nelson Township is better than Illinois on 4 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside East Nelson Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Nelson Township | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.9%17.1–22.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.6–16.4 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.4–19.6 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.7%29.7–47.1 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.2–13.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%32.7–41.4 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.1%33.6–42.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.4%26.9–34.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.6–9.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%9.8–15.2 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%12.8–17.7 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%20.3–29.3 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.5–21.2 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5%26.5–41.2 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.4–9.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.3–81.6 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.4%60–68.2 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85–88.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.1–80.8 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%56.9–68.4 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%62.6–80 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%19.8–27.2 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%28.3–39.2 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%21–28.8 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%11–15.7 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.8–12.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.4–7.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6–8 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%10.2–14.5 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.2%27.7–36.8 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.2–17.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.4–16.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.7–10 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.3 | 3.5% | 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 East Nelson Township
Is East Nelson Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Nelson Township is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Nelson Township?
CDC estimates 37.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.7% and 47.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Nelson Township?
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, 14.8 miles in a straight line from East Nelson Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Nelson Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.6%), 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 Nelson 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 East Nelson Township.
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.