On CDC estimates, Markham is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Markham differs from Illinois on 26 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Markham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Markham
Dental care lags in Markham
48.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 25.8% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Markham
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (35.8%), more than twice the Illinois rate. Utility shut-off threats (18.7% vs 7.8%) and housing insecurity (28.3% vs 13.2%) are higher too. 36.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Markham
1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 3.3% across Illinois. 1 in 6 adults have diabetes (17.6%), vs 11.7% across Illinois. COPD is also above the state: 8.3%, vs 6.3% across Illinois. In all, Markham runs above Illinois on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Markham
Grades next door run from Oak Forest (A) to Harvey (D). Markham is a C−. Around town ↓
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 Markham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Markham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Markham is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #727 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 39% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Markham’s median household income is $57,302; among the 8,118 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Markham compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (U.S. 7.9%); checkup in the past year, 80.8% (U.S. 77.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Markham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
36.2% of Markham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Out of every 100 Markham adults…
Markham runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Markham and the towns around it
Markham’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markham | C− | 40.9% | 17.6% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Harvey | D | 41.8% | 18.9% | 18.1% | CDC place |
| Oak Forest | A | 29% | 9.7% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Hazel Crest | C+ | 39% | 16.2% | 13.1% | CDC place |
| Country Club Hills | B− | 38.2% | 15.5% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Midlothian | B+ | 32.3% | 10.9% | 13% | CDC place |
| Posen | B− | 34.1% | 12.1% | 12.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Markham
No hospital or community health center in Markham 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 Markham; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
3.8 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
How Markham adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Markham runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 Markham 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Markham adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Markham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Markham is better than Illinois on 3 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Markham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Markham | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 28.5%26–31.2 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.4–16.3 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.4–20 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%37.1–44.6 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.6%15.9–19.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.6%39–44.3 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%31.7–36.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.2%24.1–28.4 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.3%11–13.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.9–5.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 25.8%22–30 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.2–18.2 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.4%29.1–35.8 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.3%12.6–16 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.3%41.5–49.2 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%12.1–16.2 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%78.5–82.8 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 48.1%44.9–51.3 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.5–88.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.6–79.8 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.5%51.4–59.4 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%68.5–79.5 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.1%16–20.2 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.1%35.8–42.4 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.4%31.2–37.6 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 35.8%32.6–39.4 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.3%25.7–31.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.7%16.7–20.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.6%14.9–18.5 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 36.2%32.6–40 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.5%32.6–38.7 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.8%18–21.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.8–18.2 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 8.8%8–9.6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%11–13.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 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 Markham
Is Markham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Markham is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #727 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Markham?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 44.6%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Markham?
Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Markham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Markham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.1–16.2%), 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 Markham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Markham.
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.