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West Main in OblongPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
≈ CHealth Grade
Health in Oblong · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Oblong is healthier than 58%

Oblong differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 9 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oblong. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Oblong

COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Oblong

1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Cancer is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 7.6% across Illinois. In all, Oblong runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Oblong, and more people treating it

40.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Illinois 33%), but 79.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.7% statewide. Checkups ↓

Smoking is more common in Oblong

1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.2%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓

Oblong is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Oblong is healthier than 35%. Against the 8,311 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 58%. 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 Oblong’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Oblong’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oblong is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 46% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 25%).

C+Self-rated health21.3% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.3% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
C+Mental distress17.4% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity39.5% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
CDiabetes13.1% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking15.2% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
B−Exercise26.3% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 35%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $43K–$72K (8,311)Healthier than 58%

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). Oblong’s median household income is $57,917; among the 8,311 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.

Where Oblong compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.8% (U.S. 76.5%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Oblong could be anywhere from D to A−. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Oblong adults…

Oblong runs above IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Oblong adults have COPD
Illinois: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.9–11.5%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Oblong adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

80%Yearly checkupIL 78%
58%Dentist visitIL 63%
87%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
64%Colon screeningIL 60%
73%MammogramIL 74%
80%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Oblong 7.8% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 26.3%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.9%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 16.5%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 15.2%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Oblong, betterOblong, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Oblong gets moving

0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Oblong

No hospital or community health center in Oblong itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERCrawford Memorial HospitalRobinson · 8.7 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCrawford Memorial Hospital★★★★★ · 8.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouthern Illinois Healthcare FoundationOlney · 19.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
8.7 mi
Crawford Memorial Hospital
Robinson · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.9 mi
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
2 sites · nearest in Olney
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.5 mi
Carle Richland Memorial Hospital
Olney · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
22.1 mi
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital
Lawrenceville · not rated
ERRural critical access
30.1 mi
Good Samaritan Family Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Vincennes
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
30.5 mi
Good Samaritan Hospital
Vincennes · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Oblong itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Oblong itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Oblong itself

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 Oblong; ≈ 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).

Mind & connection

How Oblong adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3Oblong adults feel lonely
32.7% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Oblong adults lack social or emotional support
23.3% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Oblong adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.2% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6Oblong adults are in frequent mental distress
17.4% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Oblong adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Oblong adults worry about having enough food
13.8% · IL 15.9%
About the same as IL
1 in 9
Oblong adults worry about keeping their housing
10.6% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 14
Oblong adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.1% · IL 7.8%
About the same as IL
1 in 13
Oblong adults lack reliable transportation
7.6% · IL 8%
About the same as IL

14.2% of Oblong adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Around town

Oblong and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
OblongC39.5%13.1%15.2%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

34.7%

of Oblong adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs17.5%
Thinking or memory14.6%
Hearing9.4%
Errands alone9.9%
Vision5.6%
Dressing or bathing4.4%
Illinois

Every CDC estimate for Oblong

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oblong is better than Illinois on 2 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Oblong’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…OblongILU.S.vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health21.3%17.7–25.218.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.3%13–17.612.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.4%15–19.815.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity39.5%31–4834%32.9%About the same
Diabetes13.1%11.2–15.211.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure40.1%35.6–44.433%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)39.7%35.3–44.435.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis32.6%28.9–36.224.2%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.8%9.4–12.19.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.9%9.8–12.27.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease8.6%7.5–9.75.9%6.4%Worse
COPD9.7%7.9–11.56.3%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.4%3.8–5.13.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.5%9.1–14.510.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.2%12.2–18.412.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work26.3%21.1–31.623%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking16.5%13.6–19.617.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.9%27.9–42.935.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.8%6–10.19.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.6%76.1–82.977.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year58.4%54.2–62.863.4%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years87%85–89.187.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79.8%77–82.375.7%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.4%58.6–70.160.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)72.5%63.7–80.673.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23.2%19.5–2719.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.7%27.1–38.533.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support23.3%19.2–27.625.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13.8%10.8–17.115.9%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.6%8.5–12.713.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.1%5.8–8.47.8%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.6%6.3–8.98%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)14.2%11.1–17.613.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability34.7%29.4–4027.6%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs17.5%14.6–20.512.8%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.6%12.3–17.112.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty9.4%8.3–10.76.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5.6%4.7–6.54.8%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone9.9%8.3–11.77.6%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.4%3.7–5.13.5%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 Oblong

Is Oblong a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oblong is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Oblong?

CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31% and 48%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Oblong?

Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson, 8.7 miles in a straight line from Oblong’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Oblong have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–10.1%), 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 Oblong more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oblong.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.