Photo: Etombari · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Highwood is healthier than 40%
Highwood differs from Illinois on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Highwood. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Highwood
Against towns with similar incomes, Highwood’s lead shrinks
Highwood is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, but 40% of the 7,478 towns with similar household incomes ($81K–$135K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Many Highwood adults are uninsured, but health holds up
1 in 7 working-age adults has no health insurance (15.2%, vs 9.9% across Illinois). Yet the share who say their health is fair or poor, 20.2%, is about level with the state’s 18.6%. Checkups ↓
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 Highwood’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Highwood’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Highwood is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns, #380 of 767 in Illinois. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 82% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Highwood’s median household income is $107,875; among the 7,478 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($81K–$135K), it’s healthier than 40%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Highwood adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 Highwood adults…
Highwood runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Highwood
No hospital or community health center in Highwood 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 Highwood; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Highwood adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Highwood 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.
14.6% of Highwood adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Highwood and the towns around it
Highwood’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highwood | B+ | 36.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Highland Park | A+ | 29.3% | 9.8% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| Lake Forest | A+ | 27.8% | 9.4% | 6.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Highwood adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Highwood
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Highwood is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Highwood’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Highwood | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%16.6–23.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%10.6–14.5 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%12.8–17 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%30.7–41.5 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.5–14.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.2%28.6–35.7 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32.4–40 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.5%18.8–24.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%4.9–6.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.9%4.7–7.2 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.6–3.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.7%11.3–16.4 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6%9.1–14.3 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24%19.4–28.5 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13.2–18.5 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%28.9–39.2 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.2%11.3–19.4 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.2%71.5–78.5 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%57–64.3 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.1–88.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.1%69.7–76.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.9%55.1–64.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%66.8–80.6 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.3%15.3–21.2 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%27.2–36.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.5%20.7–28.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%14.3–22.4 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.3%12.3–18.4 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7–10.2 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.3–10.6 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.6%11.3–18.2 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%23.1–31.7 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%10.6–15.4 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.3%11.1–15.8 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%4.8–6.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.2–4.5 | 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 Highwood
Is Highwood a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Highwood is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #380 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 Highwood?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 41.5%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Highwood?
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, 4.4 miles in a straight line from Highwood’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Highwood have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–19.4%), 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 Highwood more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Highwood.
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.