On CDC estimates, Independence Township is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Independence Township differs from Illinois on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 62946, 62917, 62987. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence Township
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Independence Township
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Cancer is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 7.6% across Illinois. In all, Independence Township runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Independence Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.3%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Independence Township, and more people treating it
39.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Illinois 33%), but 78.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.7% statewide. 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 Independence Township’s likely range; Independence Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 62946, 62917, 62987, 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 Independence Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence Township is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 47% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Independence Township’s median household income is $79,375; among the 10,774 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$99K), it’s healthier than 21%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Independence Township compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 8.2% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Independence Township adults…
Independence Township runs above IL on 7 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.
17 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Independence Township
No hospital or community health center in Independence 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 Independence 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 Independence Township adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Independence 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% of Independence Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Independence Township and the towns around it
Independence Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Township | C | 39.7% | 13.5% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Stonefort Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Harrisburg Township | C | 39.7% | 13.5% | 16.5% | ZIP codes |
| Mountain Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Carrier Mills Township | C+ | 39.5% | 13.3% | 15.7% | ZIP codes |
Stonefort Township and Mountain 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 Independence Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence Township is better than Illinois on 2 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Independence Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence Township | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%19.2–24.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.3 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.6–19.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%31.4–48.2 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.6–15.4 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.5%35.1–43.7 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%34.5–43.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6%28–35 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.8%16.3–23.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14–18.7 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.1%21.8–30.7 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.2–20.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8%28.8–43.1 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.9–9.8 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.4–82.1 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.6%56.7–64.5 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.9–88.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%75.8–81.2 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%57.7–68.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.1%63.6–74.5 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.5–26.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%28–38 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%20.8–27.9 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%13.2–18 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.1–13.7 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.1 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.2–9.3 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16%13.5–18.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34%29.5–38.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%14.9–19.3 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.2–16.7 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.7–10.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 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 Independence Township
Is Independence Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence Township is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 21%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Independence Township?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 48.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence Township?
Harrisburg Medical Center in Harrisburg, 4.8 miles in a straight line from Independence Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Independence Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–9.8%), 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 Independence 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 Independence 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.