Photo: Nyttend · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Murphysboro is healthier than 56%
Murphysboro trails Illinois on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Murphysboro. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Murphysboro
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Murphysboro
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.3% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Murphysboro runs above Illinois on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Murphysboro
55% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Murphysboro
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.6%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Murphysboro is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Murphysboro is healthier than 17%. Against the 3,727 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 56%. Health Grade ↓
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 Murphysboro’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Murphysboro’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Murphysboro is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #721 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 33% of U.S. towns); obesity 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). Murphysboro’s median household income is $44,154; among the 3,727 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 56%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Murphysboro adults…
Murphysboro runs above IL on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Murphysboro adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Murphysboro
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro; ≈ 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 Murphysboro adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Murphysboro runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Murphysboro 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.
21.6% of Murphysboro adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Murphysboro and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murphysboro | C− | 43.9% | 14.2% | 17.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Murphysboro adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Murphysboro
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Murphysboro is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 19; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Murphysboro’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Murphysboro | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.7%20.5–26.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.8–17.6 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.5–21 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.9%35.5–52.9 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.2–16.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.4%35–44.1 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.6–41.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.3%26.8–34 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.7%8.4–10.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.6–21.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15.1–20.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%23.5–33.2 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.5–19.9 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.5%32.5–46.8 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%8.2–11.5 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%75.4–82.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55%51.1–58.8 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.3–87.4 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.3%74.3–80.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.6%58.2–68.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%62.6–78.9 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%19.3–26.8 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35%29.5–40.5 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.3–30.1 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.1%17.1–23.2 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.6%13.4–17.8 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.9%9.4–12.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.1–11.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.6%18.4–24.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.5%29.9–39.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%15.2–19.8 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14–18.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 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 Murphysboro
Is Murphysboro a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Murphysboro is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #721 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 Murphysboro?
CDC estimates 43.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 52.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Murphysboro?
St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Murphysboro’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Murphysboro have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.5%), 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 Murphysboro 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 Murphysboro.
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.