St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad Depot · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Pekin is healthier than 55%
Pekin trails Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pekin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pekin
COPD, heart disease and depression run high in Pekin
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.2%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Depression is also above the state: 24.1%, vs 19.8% across Illinois. In all, Pekin runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Pekin
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.7%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Pekin is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Pekin is healthier than 36%. Against the 9,126 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 55%. 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 Pekin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Pekin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pekin is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #599 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 47% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 31%).
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). Pekin’s median household income is $60,790; among the 9,126 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 55%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Pekin adults…
Pekin runs above IL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
26 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Care in and near Pekin
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Pekin, 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 Pekin; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Pekin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Pekin adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Pekin runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Pekin 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.
15.9% of Pekin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Pekin and the towns around it
Pekin’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pekin | C+ | 38.5% | 12.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| North Pekin | B | 36.4% | 11% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Hollis Township | B+ | 33.1% | 11.8% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Pekin Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Elm Grove Township | B | 36.6% | 11.4% | 14.1% | ZIP codes |
| Marquette Heights | B | 36.5% | 10.7% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Groveland Township | B | 37.1% | 11.9% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Cincinnati Township | C+ | 38.1% | 12.2% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
Pekin Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pekin adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pekin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pekin is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Pekin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pekin | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.1%18.5–23.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13–16.5 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16–20.2 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%30.5–46.7 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.7–14.2 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.8%32.4–41.2 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.4–41.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%25.7–32.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.5–8 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.9–9.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.3%12.4–18.7 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.5–19.2 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.8–30.6 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%14.3–21 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%31.3–45.6 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.5%7.2–10 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%73.9–81.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.9%56–63.9 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.5–87.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.2–79.4 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%55.7–66.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.9%60.9–78.1 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.4–28.1 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.8%28.7–39.4 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21.2–28.8 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.7%13.5–18 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.5–14.2 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%7–9.3 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.9%13.8–18.3 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%28.7–37.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%13.6–17.6 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.3–16.9 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.8–5.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.5 | 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 Pekin
Is Pekin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pekin is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #599 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 Pekin?
CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 46.7%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pekin?
Carle Health Pekin Hospital in Pekin, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Pekin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Pekin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10%), 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 Pekin 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 Pekin.
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.