Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Phoenix is healthier than 88%
Phoenix differs from Illinois on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Phoenix. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Phoenix
Stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure run high in Phoenix
1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), about twice the Illinois rate. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.6%), vs 11.7% across Illinois. High blood pressure is also above the state: 46%, vs 33% across Illinois. In all, Phoenix runs above Illinois on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Phoenix
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (34.6%), about twice the Illinois rate. Utility shut-off threats (17.1% vs 7.8%) and housing insecurity (26.8% vs 13.2%) are higher too. 34.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Phoenix
47.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 17% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Phoenix is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Phoenix is healthier than 20%. Against the 595 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 88%. 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 Phoenix’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Phoenix’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Phoenix is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 55% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Phoenix’s median household income is $30,288; among the 595 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 88%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Phoenix compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.7% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.7% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82.9% (U.S. 77.4%).
Out of every 100 Phoenix adults…
Phoenix runs below IL on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
34.2% of Phoenix adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Phoenix adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Phoenix
No hospital or community health center in Phoenix 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 Phoenix; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Phoenix adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Phoenix runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 Phoenix 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.
Phoenix and the towns around it
Phoenix’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | C− | 40.7% | 19.6% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Harvey | D | 41.8% | 18.9% | 18.1% | CDC place |
| South Holland | C+ | 38% | 16.3% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Phoenix adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Phoenix
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Phoenix is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Phoenix’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Phoenix | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.2%25–33.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.1–17.2 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–18.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.7%36.7–44.4 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.6%17.4–22 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46%43–48.9 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%33.6–39 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29%26.5–31.5 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%11–13.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.5–8.6 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7–10.4 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.3–7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17%14.1–20.4 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.4–18.3 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.8%28.2–37.4 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.6%41.7–49.5 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%10.3–16.4 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.9%80.6–84.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.7%44.5–51 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%87.1–90.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.9%78.7–83 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.5%56.4–64.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%70.5–81 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16.3%14.2–18.4 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 39.3%35.5–43.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.6%31.5–39.6 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 34.6%29.1–40.4 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.8%22.7–30.6 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17.1%14.5–19.7 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.7%13.2–18.2 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 34.2%28.2–40.4 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.5%32.2–40.7 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22%18.8–25.4 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.4%12.9–17.9 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9%7.6–10.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.1%10.1–14.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.1%5.9–8.5 | 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 Phoenix
Is Phoenix a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Phoenix is healthier than 20% 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 Phoenix?
CDC estimates 40.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.7% and 44.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Phoenix?
Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Phoenix’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Phoenix have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–16.4%), 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix.
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.