Photo: Kepper66 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Princeton is healthier than 70%
Princeton differs from Illinois on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Princeton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Princeton
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Princeton
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.9%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.2%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Princeton runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%), and cancer, COPD and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Princeton, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Illinois 33%), but 80% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
Princeton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Princeton is healthier than 48%. Against the 9,391 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 70%. 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 Princeton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Princeton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Princeton is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #504 of 767 in Illinois. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 63% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Princeton’s median household income is $61,946; among the 9,391 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 70%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Princeton compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 7.7% (U.S. 11%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80% (U.S. 76.5%); worried about keeping housing, 10% (U.S. 12%).
Out of every 100 Princeton adults…
Princeton runs above IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Princeton is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Princeton as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Princeton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Princeton
1 hospital in Princeton, 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 Princeton; ≈ 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.
2.2 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Princeton adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Princeton 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.
13.1% of Princeton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Princeton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | B− | 37.4% | 13.2% | 14.2% | CDC place |
| Dover Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Princeton Township | — | — | — | — |
Dover Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Princeton Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Princeton adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Princeton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Princeton is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Princeton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Princeton | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%17.1–23.3 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.7–16.8 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.5 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%29.1–46.1 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.2–15.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.1–43.3 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.6%34.8–44.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.1%28.3–35.9 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.9–12 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.7–10.5 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%8.8–13.6 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.2%11.8–16.8 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%20.4–30.2 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.1–19.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1%27.3–41.5 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.4–9.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%76.7–83.4 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.6%60.6–68.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%86.1–89.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77–82.7 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%61.8–72.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%62.8–79.8 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.2–26.5 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.2–38.1 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%19.3–27.1 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%10.9–15.7 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.4–11.9 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.1–8.1 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.1%10.9–15.8 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%28.1–37.7 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%13.9–19.1 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.6–6 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.8–10.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 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 Princeton
Is Princeton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Princeton is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #504 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 Princeton?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 46.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Princeton?
OSF Saint Clare Medical Center in Princeton, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Princeton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Princeton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.3%), 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 Princeton 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 Princeton.
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.