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Leaf River, IL Sign 01Photo: Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) · CC BY 2.5
≈ B+Health Grade
Health in Leaf River Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Leaf River Township is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns

Leaf River Township differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 3 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 61047, 61039. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Leaf River Township

Cancer and arthritis run high in Leaf River Township

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.5%), vs 24.2% across Illinois. In all, Leaf River Township runs above Illinois on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Leaf River Township keeps up with checkups

It beats Illinois on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (67.9% vs 63.4%) and cholesterol checks (89.5% vs 87.4%). Checkups ↓

Fewer Leaf River Township adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 10 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 Leaf River Township’s likely range; Leaf River Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 61047, 61039, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Leaf River Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Leaf River Township is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 77% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 26%).

B+Self-rated health16.7% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress13% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress15.3% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity39.3% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
BDiabetes11.6% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
B+Smoking12.7% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
A−Exercise21.3% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 67%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $64K–$107K (10,326)Healthier than 68%

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). Leaf River Township’s median household income is $85,833; among the 10,326 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 68%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Leaf River Township could be anywhere from C+ to A. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 61047,61039), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Leaf River Township adults…

Leaf River Township runs above IL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Leaf River Township adults have had cancer
Illinois: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 9.4–11.4%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Leaf River Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

80%Yearly checkupIL 78%
68%Dentist visitIL 63%
90%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
67%Colon screeningIL 60%
73%MammogramIL 74%
79%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 17
working-age adults has no health insurance
Leaf River Township 6% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 10
Leaf River Township adults worry about having enough food
9.8% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 12
Leaf River Township adults worry about keeping their housing
8.4% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 19
Leaf River Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.3% · IL 7.8%
Better than IL
1 in 18
Leaf River Township adults lack reliable transportation
5.5% · IL 8%
Better than IL

9% of Leaf River Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Getting care

Care in and near Leaf River Township

No hospital or community health center in Leaf River Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERFHN Memorial HospitalFreeport · 15.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyFHN Memorial Hospital★★★★★ · 15.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCrusaders Central Clinic AssociationRockford · 16.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
15.6 mi
FHN Memorial Hospital
Freeport · ★★★★★
ER
16.8 mi
Crusaders Central Clinic Association
6 sites · nearest in Rockford
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
17.9 mi
Ui Health Mile Square Health Center L.P. Johnson Rockford
Rockford · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
18 mi
Javon Bea Hospital
Rockford · ★★★★★
ER
18.1 mi
Uw Health
Rockford · ★★★★★
ER
21.3 mi
Saint Anthony Medical Center
Rockford · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Leaf River Township itself
✓ Dental careLeaf River Township is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Leaf River Township itself

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 Leaf River 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 21.3%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.1%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 18.3%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 12.7%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Leaf River Township, betterLeaf River Township, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Leaf River Township gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Leaf River Township adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

3 in 10Leaf River Township adults feel lonely
30.6% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Leaf River Township adults lack social or emotional support
22.5% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 5Leaf River Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.4% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 7Leaf River Township adults are in frequent mental distress
15.3% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Leaf River Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Leaf River Township and the towns around it

Leaf River Township has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.

Maryland Township: 40.4%Rockvale Township: 40.9%Seward Township: 37.9%Byron Township: 40.4%Ridott Township: 38.6%Mount Morris Township: 42%Forreston Township: 41%Forreston: 41.5%Marion Township: 38.9%Oregon-Nashua Township: 41%Pine Rock Township: 39.4%Pecatonica Township: 37.7%Winnebago Township: 40.4%Rockford Township: 43.9%Rock Run Township: 38.5%Silver Creek Township: 41.7%Leaf River Township: 39.3%Leaf River TownshipMaryland TownshipRockvale TownshipSeward TownshipByron TownshipRidott TownshipFHN Memorial Hospital · Freeport · 15.6 mi · 3★ MedicareHJavon Bea Hospital · Rockford · 18 mi · 3★ MedicareHUw Health · Rockford · 18.1 mi · 3★ MedicareHSaint Anthony Medical Center · Rockford · 21.3 mi · 2★ MedicareHCrusader Clinic on West State Street · Rockford · 16.8 mi+Ui Health Mile Square Health Center L.P. Johnson Rockford · Rockford · 17.9 mi+
Healthier than ILNear ILLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#6 of 17 towns on this map, healthiest first
Seward Township37.9%
Ridott Township38.6%
Leaf River Township39.3%
Maryland Township40.4%
Byron Township40.4%
Rockvale Township40.9%
IL34%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Leaf River TownshipB+39.3%11.6%12.7%ZIP codes
Maryland Township————
Rockvale TownshipB−40.9%12.8%14.6%ZIP codes
Ridott TownshipB38.6%11.6%13.7%ZIP codes
Byron TownshipB40.4%11.4%13.6%ZIP codes
Seward Township————

Maryland Township and Seward Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

28%

of Leaf River Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.4%
Thinking or memory11.8%
Hearing7.3%
Errands alone7.2%
Vision4%
Dressing or bathing3.3%
Illinois

Every CDC estimate for Leaf River Township

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Leaf River Township is better than Illinois on 8 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Leaf River Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Leaf River TownshipILU.S.vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health16.7%14.3–19.318.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13%11.4–14.812.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.3%13.5–17.315.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity39.3%31.4–47.234%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.6%10–13.311.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure37.1%32.9–41.333%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.8%34.4–43.435.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis29.5%26.1–3324.2%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.1%8.9–11.49.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.4%9.4–11.47.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.8%6–7.65.9%6.4%Worse
COPD7.3%6.3–8.36.3%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.5%3.1–3.83.3%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.4%7.5–11.710.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes12.7%10.7–15.112.1%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work21.3%17.4–25.623%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.3%15.2–21.717.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.1%27.1–41.735.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6%4.9–7.19.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year79.8%76.3–8377.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year67.9%64.3–71.763.4%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years89.5%88–9187.4%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.8%75.6–81.675.7%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)66.6%60.9–71.960.2%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)72.7%64.1–80.773.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.4%18.1–24.919.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.6%25.7–35.933.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.5%19–26.325.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.8%8.1–11.815.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing8.4%7–9.913.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.3%4.5–6.27.8%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation5.5%4.8–6.48%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)9%7.4–10.913.8%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability28%24–32.127.6%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.4%11.5–15.512.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering11.8%10.2–13.412.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.3%6.5–8.26.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4%3.6–4.54.8%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone7.2%6.3–8.17.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.3%2.9–3.73.5%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 Leaf River Township

Is Leaf River Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Leaf River Township is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 68%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Leaf River Township?

CDC estimates 39.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 47.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Leaf River Township?

FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, 15.6 miles in a straight line from Leaf River Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Leaf River Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.1%), 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 Leaf River Township 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 Leaf River Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.