Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Oak Forest is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns
Oak Forest differs from Illinois on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oak Forest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oak Forest
Binge drinking is the habit Oak Forest doesn’t win on
20.4% of adults binge drink, vs 17.8% across Illinois, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Oak Forest
Grades next door run from Orland Park (A) to Markham (C−). Oak Forest is an A. Around town ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Oak Forest
Oak Forest runs below Illinois on diabetes (9.7% vs 11.7%), heart disease (5% vs 5.9%) and stroke (2.8% vs 3.3%). 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 Oak Forest’s likely range.
What’s behind Oak Forest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oak Forest is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #170 of 767 in Illinois. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 87% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 75%.
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). Oak Forest’s median household income is $91,990; among the 9,719 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
1.6 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
Oak Forest and the towns around it
Oak Forest’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Forest | A | 29% | 9.7% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Midlothian | B+ | 32.3% | 10.9% | 13% | CDC place |
| Orland Park | A | 26.8% | 10.3% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Country Club Hills | B− | 38.2% | 15.5% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Markham | C− | 40.9% | 17.6% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Oak Forest adults…
Oak Forest runs below IL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Oak Forest
No hospital or community health center in Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oak Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Oak Forest adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Oak Forest 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.
11.1% of Oak Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oak Forest adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oak Forest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oak Forest is better than Illinois on 11 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Oak Forest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oak Forest | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.4%14.8–18.1 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10.2–12.5 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%14–17 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29%25.8–32.1 | 34% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.6–10.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.7%26.3–31 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.5%31.9–37.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20.6–24.5 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%9–11 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%7–8.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.6–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.6–11.2 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20%17.7–22.4 | 23% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20.4%18.1–22.6 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%30.6–37.5 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%74.1–79.1 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.9%63.9–69.7 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.8–89.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.5%70.6–76.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.5%57.7–65.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%69.6–80.3 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%18.6–23.2 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%30.5–36.7 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%22.7–28 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%12.3–15.5 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.7–13.5 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.3–7.9 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.1%9.5–12.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.2%22.8–27.6 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9.8–12.2 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.2–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%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 Oak Forest
Is Oak Forest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oak Forest is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #170 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oak Forest?
CDC estimates 29% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.8% and 32.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oak Forest?
Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Oak Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oak Forest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–10.4%), 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 Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest.
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.