Photo: Jefe317 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, North Chicago is healthier than 88%
North Chicago differs from Illinois on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Chicago. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Chicago
North Chicago is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, North Chicago is healthier than 63%. Against the 8,957 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 88%. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in North Chicago
55.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 23.5% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
More North Chicago adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (32.3%), vs 25.4% across Illinois. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.8%, vs 15.6% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Health varies a lot right around North Chicago
Grades next door run from Lake Bluff (A+) to Waukegan (C). North Chicago is a B. Around town ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in North Chicago
North Chicago runs below Illinois on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (2.6% vs 7.6%), arthritis (12.5% vs 24.2%) and heart disease (3.6% vs 5.9%). A young population is part of it: only 7% 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 North Chicago’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind North Chicago’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Chicago is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #400 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 89% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). North Chicago’s median household income is $60,172; among the 8,957 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 88%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Illinois towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state North Chicago is healthier than 48% of graded towns, against 63% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Chicago adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 North Chicago adults…
North Chicago runs below IL on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of North Chicago residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
How North Chicago adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, North Chicago runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 North Chicago 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.
North Chicago and the towns around it
North Chicago’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Chicago | B | 34.8% | 9.2% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Shields Township | A | 31% | 9.8% | 8.8% | ZIP codes |
| Waukegan Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake Bluff | A+ | 28.9% | 9.2% | 7.1% | CDC place |
| Waukegan | C | 40.2% | 14.4% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Libertyville Township | A+ | 30.3% | 10% | 8.3% | ZIP codes |
Waukegan Township: the same community as Waukegan, graded once. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near North Chicago
1 hospital and 1 community health center in North Chicago, 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 North Chicago; ≈ 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.
7.4 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22% of North Chicago adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Chicago adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Chicago
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Chicago is better than Illinois on 8 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside North Chicago’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Chicago | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.6%18.2–23 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.1%9.7–12.4 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.5–22.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%29.8–39.9 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.2%8.1–10.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.7%22–27.4 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.4%22.5–28.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 12.5%11–14 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 2.6%2.4–2.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%4–5 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.5%19.9–27.6 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.5–14 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.2%20.7–27.8 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.3%16.2–22.5 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%31.6–42 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.2%14.2–18.4 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.9%64.7–72.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.7%52.3–59.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75%72.2–77.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 60.2%57.8–62.5 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54.3%49.4–59.3 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%64.1–78.7 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.9%16–21.9 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.6%35.9–45.6 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.3%28.4–36.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.2%23.4–29.3 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.6%18.3–23.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.6–13.6 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.7%12.3–15.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22%19.6–24.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.9%25.3–32.7 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%9–11.4 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.9–20.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4%3.6–4.6 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.9–7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 3.5% | 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 North Chicago
Is North Chicago a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Chicago is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #400 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 North Chicago?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 39.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Chicago?
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, 4.1 miles in a straight line from North Chicago’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Chicago have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.2–18.4%), 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 North Chicago 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 North Chicago.
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.