Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Elk Township is healthier than 52%
Elk Township trails Illinois on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 62932, 62927, 62832. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elk Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Elk Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.3%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.2%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.3% across Illinois. In all, Elk Township runs above Illinois on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Elk Township
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.2%), vs 19.8% across Illinois. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.8%, vs 15.6% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Elk Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.7%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Elk Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Elk Township is healthier than 18%. Against the 4,639 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 52%. 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 Elk Township’s likely range; Elk Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 62932, 62927, 62832, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Elk Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Township is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 37% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Elk Township’s median household income is $46,940; among the 4,639 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Elk Township adults…
Elk Township runs above IL on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Elk Township is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Elk Township as about how healthy they are.
How Elk Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Elk Township runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Elk 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
5.9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Elk Township
No hospital or community health center in Elk 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 Elk 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 Elk Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.6% of Elk Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Elk Township and the towns around it
Elk Township’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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Township | C− | 41.9% | 13.7% | 17.7% | ZIP codes |
| De Soto Township | C | 41.7% | 12.6% | 17% | ZIP codes |
| Six Mile Township | C− | 41.2% | 14.4% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
| Vergennes Township | — | — | — | — |
Vergennes 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 Elk Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elk Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elk Township is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Elk Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elk Township | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23%20–26.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.4 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.7–21.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.9%33.9–50.9 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.8–15.9 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.9%34.7–43.5 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%34.1–43.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1%28.7–35.9 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.8–10.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.3–9.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12.1–17.9 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15–20.8 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.5%23–32.9 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%13.8–20.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.2%30.3–44.5 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%6.8–10.5 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.1%75.5–82.5 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.2%53.2–61.1 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.2–88.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%75.5–81.3 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.6%55.2–65.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.3%57–74.6 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.6–28.1 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%29–40.2 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%20.9–28.9 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.8%13.7–19.9 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.6%10.5–14.9 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.3–10 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.5–10.2 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.6%14.5–21 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.8%30.4–39.8 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.4–20.4 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14–18.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.3–6.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.3–12 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 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 Elk Township
Is Elk Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Township is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− 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 Elk Township?
CDC estimates 41.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 50.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elk Township?
Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Elk Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Elk Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–10.5%), 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 Elk Township 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 Elk 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.