Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Rock Island is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns
Rock Island trails Illinois on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rock Island. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rock Island
Dental care lags in Rock Island
54.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 16.3% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Rock Island
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.6%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Utility shut-off threats (11.2% vs 7.8%) and no reliable transportation (11.3% vs 8%) are higher too. 22.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Rock Island
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 3.3% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.1%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Rock Island runs above Illinois on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Rock Island is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rock Island is healthier than 26%. Against the 8,680 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 42%. 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 Rock Island’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Rock Island’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rock Island is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #658 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 43% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Rock Island’s median household income is $59,041; among the 8,680 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rock Island adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.1% of Rock Island adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Out of every 100 Rock Island adults…
Rock Island runs above IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Rock Island
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Rock Island, 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 Rock Island; ≈ 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.
15 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves
How Rock Island adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Rock Island runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Rock Island 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.
Rock Island and the towns around it
Rock Island’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Island · Rock Island Township · South Rock Island Township | C | 40.9% | 13.5% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Milan | C+ | 39.7% | 13% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Moline | C+ | 39.7% | 12.9% | 14.6% | CDC place |
| Rock Island Arsenal | — | — | — | — | |
| Moline Township | C+ | 39.8% | 13% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
| South Moline Township | C+ | 40% | 13.1% | 14.8% | ZIP codes |
Rock Island, Rock Island Township and South Rock Island Township share one ZIP estimate, so they share a row. Rock Island Arsenal: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rock Island adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rock Island
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rock Island is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Rock Island’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rock Island | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23%20.5–25.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.5 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.6–20.8 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.9%33.6–48.9 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.8–15.5 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36%32.1–40.2 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%31.6–39.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6%24.5–30.9 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.5%7.7–9.5 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.3%13.3–19.3 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14–18.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.8%22.7–31.2 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%14.6–21 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.9%32–45.8 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.3–12.3 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74.2–81.3 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.2%50–58 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.5–86.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%74.1–79.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.1%56.5–67.1 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%62–78.7 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.2%18–24.7 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.3%30–40.7 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%22.6–30.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.6%19–24.4 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.3%14.2–18.5 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.3%10–12.7 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.1%19.6–24.8 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%29.1–37.5 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%14.2–18.1 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.2–17.8 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.4–11.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.5–5.3 | 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 Rock Island
Is Rock Island a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rock Island is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #658 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rock Island?
CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 48.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rock Island?
Trinity Rock Island in Rock Island, 1.2 miles in a straight line from Rock Island’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rock Island have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–12.3%), 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 Rock Island 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 Rock Island.
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.