Photo: Katherine Johnson from Springfield, IL · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Lincoln is healthier than 62%
Lincoln differs from Illinois on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lincoln. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lincoln
Lincoln is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Lincoln is healthier than 37%. Against the 8,130 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 62%. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Lincoln
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.6%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Cancer is also above the state: 9.6%, vs 7.6% across Illinois. In all, Lincoln runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Lincoln
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Lincoln has a top-rated hospital
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Lincoln’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Lincoln’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lincoln is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns, #592 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 48% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 32%).
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). Lincoln’s median household income is $57,340; among the 8,130 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Lincoln compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 8.2% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Lincoln adults…
Lincoln runs above IL on 6 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.
1.2 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Care in and near Lincoln
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Lincoln, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Lincoln; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Lincoln adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Lincoln adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lincoln runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Lincoln 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.
15.4% of Lincoln adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Lincoln and the towns around it
Lincoln’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | C+ | 38.5% | 12.6% | 16% | CDC place |
| Broadwell Township | B− | 38.3% | 11.7% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| West Lincoln Township | C+ | 38.8% | 11.7% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lincoln adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lincoln
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lincoln is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Lincoln’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lincoln | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%18.1–23.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.9–16.6 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.9–20.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%30.2–47.2 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.9–14.4 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%32.7–41.4 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.3–42.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%26.3–33.2 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%7.9–10.3 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.9%11.9–18.1 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%13.5–18.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%21.6–30.5 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%14.5–21 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35%27.9–42.7 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.8–9.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%74.5–81.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.8%56.6–64.8 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%84–87.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75–80.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%58.7–69.7 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.3%62.1–79.3 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.2%19.6–27 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.8%28.4–39.5 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.5%20.7–28.4 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%12.6–17.5 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%9.8–13.4 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.7%6.6–8.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7–9.1 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.4%13–17.9 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%28.7–37.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16%13.9–18.3 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.1–16.8 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.7–4.6 | 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 Lincoln
Is Lincoln a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lincoln is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #592 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 Lincoln?
CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 47.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lincoln?
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Lincoln’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lincoln have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–9.6%), 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln.
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.