Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Girard Township is healthier than 54%
Girard Township differs from Illinois on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 62640, 62690. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Girard Township
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Girard Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.4%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Cancer is also above the state: 10.4%, vs 7.6% across Illinois. In all, Girard Township runs above Illinois on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Girard Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.4%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Girard Township
57.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 15.4% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Girard Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Girard Township is healthier than 26%. Against the 6,592 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 54%. 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 Girard Township’s likely range; Girard Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 62640, 62690, 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 Girard Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Girard Township is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 40% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Girard Township’s median household income is $52,370; among the 6,592 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Girard Township adults…
Girard Township runs above IL on 8 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.
2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Girard Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Girard Township
No hospital or community health center in Girard 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 Girard 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).
How Girard Township adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Girard 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.4% of Girard Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Girard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girard Township | C | 38.1% | 14.2% | 17.4% | ZIP codes |
| Nilwood Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Virden Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Girard | C− | 39.1% | 14.1% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| North Otter Township | — | — | — | — |
Nilwood Township and North Otter Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Virden Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Girard Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Girard Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Girard Township is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Girard Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Girard Township | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.6–25.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.1–18 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.6–20.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%30.1–46.9 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.1–16.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.4%35.9–45 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.2–44.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.5%28.8–36.3 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.3–11.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.8–9.7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4–5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.4%12.4–18.6 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.4%14.7–20.1 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27%22.5–31.8 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.5–20 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%29.4–44.5 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.6–9.9 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.5–82.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.4%53.2–61.6 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%84.9–88.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%75.9–82 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%57.4–68.3 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.1%60.9–78.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%19.7–27.2 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.3–38 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%20.5–28.2 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%12.8–18.2 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%9.6–13.4 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.6–9.1 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7–9.3 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.4%13.7–19.3 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.5–39.6 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.9%15.6–20.5 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%13.2–17.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.8–11.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 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 Girard Township
Is Girard Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Girard Township is healthier than 26% 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 Girard Township?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 46.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Girard Township?
Carlinville Area Hospital in Carlinville, 13.9 miles in a straight line from Girard Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Girard Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–9.9%), 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 Girard 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 Girard 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.