Photo: artistmac · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Normal is healthier than 91%
Normal differs from Illinois on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Normal. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Normal
Normal is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Normal is healthier than 70%. Against the 9,899 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 91%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Normal
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.3%), vs 15.6% across Illinois. Depression is above the state too: 25%, vs 19.8% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Normal
1 in 9 adults lack reliable transportation (11.7%), vs 8% across Illinois. Food insecurity (19.3% vs 15.9%) and utility shut-off threats (9.7% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 19.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Normal
Normal runs below Illinois on six chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (8% vs 11.7%), stroke (2.4% vs 3.3%) and heart disease (4.3% vs 5.9%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Normal’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Normal’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Normal is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #337 of 767 in Illinois. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Normal’s median household income is $64,785; among the 9,899 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 91%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Normal adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Normal runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Normal 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.
19.4% of Normal adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Out of every 100 Normal adults…
Normal runs below IL on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Normal residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Normal
1 hospital in Normal, 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 Normal; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
9.6 miles of trails across 23 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Normal adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Normal and the towns around it
Normal’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | B+ | 35.2% | 8% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Bloomington City Township | A− | 35.4% | 10.1% | 11.7% | ZIP codes |
| Bloomington | A− | 35.7% | 10.2% | 12% | CDC place |
| Normal Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Towanda Township | A− | 34.5% | 9.2% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
Normal Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Normal adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Normal
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Normal is better than Illinois on 9 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Normal’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Normal | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.9%15.7–20.4 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.5%10.2–13 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.1–22.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%28.1–43.2 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8%7–9.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.6%24.2–31.4 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.5%26.8–34.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19%16.6–21.5 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.9–12.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.1–15.3 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%10.1–13.6 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.2%17.6–25.1 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.6–22.4 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%28.1–41.7 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.3%71.4–79 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.3%55.5–63.2 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.5%76.3–80.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.5%63.8–69 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64%58.5–69.3 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%63.2–80.1 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25%21.4–28.9 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36.6%31.4–42.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%20.8–28.4 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.3%16.8–22 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.7%10.4–13.2 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.4%17–21.9 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9%26–34.1 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15.2–18.9 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.9–11 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.3 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Normal
Is Normal a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Normal is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #337 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 Normal?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 43.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Normal?
Carle Bromenn Medical Center in Normal, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Normal’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Normal have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.6%), 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 Normal more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Normal.
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.