Photo: DFHoulihan · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, River Forest is among the healthiest U.S. towns
River Forest differs from Illinois on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 23 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for River Forest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in River Forest
River Forest is an active town
Only 14.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23% across Illinois. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in River Forest
River Forest runs below Illinois on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.1% vs 6.3%), diabetes (8.1% vs 11.7%) and stroke (2.3% vs 3.3%). Conditions ↓
Few River Forest adults smoke
6.9% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
River Forest is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A+ tops all four graded neighbors. The closest is Forest Park (A). Around town ↓
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 River Forest’s likely range.
What’s behind River Forest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Forest is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #7 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 almost every town); the weakest is obesity, still better than 96%.
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). River Forest’s median household income is $146,786; among the 2,984 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($110K–$183K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
7.1 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 River Forest adults…
River Forest runs below IL on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
River Forest and the towns around it
River Forest has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Forest | A+ | 24.7% | 8.1% | 6.9% | CDC place |
| River Forest Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Proviso Township | B+ | 32.6% | 12.6% | 11.3% | ZIP codes |
| Maywood | C− | 39.6% | 16.4% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Melrose Park | C+ | 34.6% | 13.2% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Forest Park | A | 30.6% | 10.6% | 9.8% | CDC place |
River Forest Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near River Forest
No hospital or community health center in River 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 River Forest; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of River Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How River Forest adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, River Forest does better than Illinois.
3 in 10 River 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.
5.7% of River Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of River Forest adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for River Forest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, River Forest is better than Illinois on 23 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside River Forest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | River Forest | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.5%10–13.2 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11.2–14.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.7%21.8–27.6 | 34% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.6%24.4–28.9 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%31.6–36.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.3%19.3–23.3 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.7–9.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.8–4.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.4–4.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.3%4.3–6.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.9%5.7–8.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 14.4%12.3–16.7 | 23% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.9%17.7–22.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6%26.4–32.9 | 35.4% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.1%4.2–6.2 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%76.5–81.2 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.4%73.9–78.7 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.9%89.6–92 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%72.1–77.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%63.1–70.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%71.2–81.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%16.9–21.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%27.6–33.8 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%18.7–23.9 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8%6.6–9.6 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6.3–8.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.2%3.6–4.9 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%4–5.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.7%4.5–7.2 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 19.8%17.5–22.3 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 8.8%7.6–10.1 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.7%2.4–3.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.9%4.3–5.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.8–2.4 | 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 River Forest
Is River Forest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Forest is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #7 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in River Forest?
CDC estimates 24.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.8% and 27.6%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to River Forest?
Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, 1.4 miles in a straight line from River Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in River Forest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–6.2%), 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 River Forest more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in River 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.