Photo: Omnedon · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Homer is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Homer differs from Illinois on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Homer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Homer
Depression and cancer run high in Homer
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23.8%), vs 19.8% across Illinois. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Conditions ↓
Fewer Homer adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Homer is insured
Only 6.5% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Illinois. 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 Homer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Homer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 83% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 55%.
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). Homer’s median household income is $85,875; among the 10,321 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 79%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Homer adults…
Homer runs above IL on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Homer residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.7% of Homer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Homer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Homer
No hospital or community health center in Homer 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 Homer; ≈ 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 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Homer adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Homer runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Homer 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.
Homer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer | B+ | 32.5% | 10.4% | 13.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Homer adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Homer
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Homer is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Homer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Homer | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.6%13.8–19.5 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%10.9–14.7 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.5–19.3 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.5%25.9–40.1 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.4%8.7–12.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%28.6–37.1 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%32.4–41.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%24.1–31.2 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.3–7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.9%5.7–8.1 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.8–3.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.6%7.5–12 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.3%10.6–16.3 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20%16–24.7 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.8%16.5–23.6 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1%27–39.7 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.1–8.4 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%72.5–80 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.7%61.7–69.5 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85–89.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%73.3–79.8 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.1%57.4–68.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.4%64.4–80.9 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.8%20.2–27.9 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%27.3–38.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.9%19.7–28 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.7%8.3–13.4 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.3%7.4–11.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%4.9–7 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.2–7.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.7%7.4–12.1 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5%23.2–32.3 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%10.2–14.5 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.8%10.8–15 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6–7.9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.4–4.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.7–3.7 | 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 Homer
Is Homer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 79%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Homer?
CDC estimates 32.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.9% and 40.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Homer?
Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, 14.8 miles in a straight line from Homer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Homer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–8.4%), 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 Homer 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 Homer.
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.