Photo: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Riverdale is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns
Riverdale differs from Illinois on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Riverdale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Riverdale
Making ends meet is harder in Riverdale
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (25.6%), 3 times the Illinois rate. Food insecurity (44.2% vs 15.9%) and no reliable transportation (21% vs 8%) are higher too. 49% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Riverdale
43.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 24.6% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Riverdale
1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.3% across Illinois. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (20%), vs 11.7% across Illinois. COPD is also above the state: 9.6%, vs 6.3% across Illinois. In all, Riverdale runs above Illinois on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Riverdale is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Riverdale is healthier than 4%. Against the 2,344 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 26%. 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 Riverdale’s likely range.
What’s behind Riverdale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Riverdale is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns, #764 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 21% 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). Riverdale’s median household income is $39,833; among the 2,344 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Riverdale compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.5% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 13% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 82.2% (U.S. 77.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
49% of Riverdale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Riverdale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 Riverdale adults…
Riverdale runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Riverdale residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Riverdale
No hospital or community health center in Riverdale 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 Riverdale; ≈ 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.
1.4 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How Riverdale adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Riverdale runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 Riverdale 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.
Riverdale and the towns around it
Riverdale’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | D− | 46.2% | 20% | 19.7% | CDC place |
| Calumet Township | D | 42.5% | 17.2% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Chicago | B+ | 32.6% | 12% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Blue Island | C+ | 36.7% | 13.9% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Dixmoor | C− | 39.8% | 16.5% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Thornton Township | C | 38.7% | 16% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Dolton | C− | 42.3% | 17.9% | 15.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Riverdale adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Riverdale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Riverdale is better than Illinois on 3 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Riverdale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Riverdale | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.1%29.1–35.3 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.4–17.8 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.3–22.4 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.2%42.2–50 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20%18–22 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.5%42.7–48.3 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%31.3–36.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%25.2–29.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.6%12.2–15.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.5%4.1–5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.6%8.5–11 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.4–6.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.6%20.8–28.7 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%17.1–22.5 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35.1%31.4–39.1 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%11.4–14.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 49.7%45.8–53.6 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.1%10.1–14.3 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.2%79.9–84.3 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43.6%40.3–46.9 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%84.8–88.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.4–79.9 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.9%49.9–58 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73%67.2–78.3 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.9–21.4 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.8%36.4–43.3 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 35.5%32.1–39.1 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 44.2%40–48.5 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 34.6%31.1–38.1 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 25.6%22.8–28.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21%18.7–23.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 49%44.2–53.8 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%34.4–41.5 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.2%19.8–24.6 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.2%16.2–20.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5%4.4–5.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.3%12.7–16 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 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 Riverdale
Is Riverdale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Riverdale is healthier than 4% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #764 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Riverdale?
CDC estimates 46.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 42.2% and 50%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Riverdale?
Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Riverdale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Riverdale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.1–14.3%), 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 Riverdale more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Riverdale.
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.