Where Essex Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Essex Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 61491, 61483, 61559. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Essex Township
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Essex Township
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Essex Township runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Essex Township, and more people treating it
38.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Illinois 33%), but 79.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Essex Township is short on primary care and dental care
Essex Township’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and dental care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Fewer Essex Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around 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 Essex Township’s likely range; Essex Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 61491, 61483, 61559, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Essex Township adults…
Essex Township runs above IL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Essex 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 Essex Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Essex Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Essex Township
No hospital or community health center in Essex 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 Essex 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.9% of Essex Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Essex Township adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Essex 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.
Essex Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toulon Township | C+ | 38.1% | 12.9% | 15% | ZIP codes |
| Valley Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Princeville Township | — | — | — | — | |
| West Jersey Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Millbrook Township | — | — | — | — |
Valley Township, West Jersey Township and Millbrook Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Princeville Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Essex Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Essex Township
Why doesn’t Essex Township have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Essex Township.
What hospital is closest to Essex Township?
OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee, 15.8 miles in a straight line from Essex Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Essex Township?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Toulon Community Health Center in Toulon, 5.9 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Essex 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. 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.