Photo: Alexbaumgarner · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Rockford as a whole is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Rockford trails Illinois on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rockford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rockford
Making ends meet is harder in Rockford
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (26.4%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Utility shut-off threats (13.8% vs 7.8%) and no reliable transportation (13.3% vs 8%) are higher too. 27.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Rockford
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.3%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.3% across Illinois. Diabetes is also above the state: 15.4%, vs 11.7% across Illinois. In all, Rockford runs above Illinois on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Rockford
53.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Rockford
Grades next door run from Cherry Valley (B+) to Owen Township (D−). Rockford is a D. Around town ↓
Rockford has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers are inside Rockford. Getting care ↓
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 Rockford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Rockford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rockford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #746 of 767 in Illinois. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 20% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). Rockford’s median household income is $54,752; among the 7,342 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
At 147,384 residents, Rockford is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.1% of Rockford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Out of every 100 Rockford adults…
Rockford runs above IL on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rockford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Rockford and the towns around it
Rockford’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | D | 44.7% | 15.4% | 18.1% | CDC place |
| Loves Park | C | 40.8% | 12.6% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| New Milford | — | — | — | — | |
| Owen Township | D− | 46.9% | 16.9% | 19.8% | ZIP codes |
| Machesney Park | C+ | 40.8% | 12.4% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Harlem Township | B− | 38.8% | 11.8% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Cherry Valley | B+ | 36.5% | 13% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Rockford Township | — | — | — | — |
New Milford and Rockford Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Rockford
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Rockford, 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 Rockford; ≈ 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.
30 miles of trails across 66 parks and preserves
How Rockford adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Rockford runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Rockford 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rockford adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rockford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rockford is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Rockford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rockford | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.6%23.9–29.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.6–18.3 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.9–21.3 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.7%37.5–52.1 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.5–17.5 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.5%35.4–43.7 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.4–42 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%25.7–32.2 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.1%9.8–12.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.3%8.4–10.3 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4.1–4.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.6–21.3 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%15.9–20.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31%26.6–35.6 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%12.8–18.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.2–45.7 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14%12.4–15.9 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%74.9–81.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.8%49.9–57.8 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.2–86 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%74–79.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59%53.3–64.4 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.2%60.2–77.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.2–26.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.3%31.3–41.4 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.9%25.1–32.8 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 26.4%23.8–29.1 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.1%17.9–22.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%12.2–15.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.3%12–14.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.1%24.7–29.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.6%32.4–41 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.4%16.4–20.6 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15.3–19 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8%7.4–8.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10.5–12.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 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 Rockford
Is Rockford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rockford is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #746 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rockford?
CDC estimates 44.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.5% and 52.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rockford?
Uw Health in Rockford, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Rockford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rockford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.4–15.9%), 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 Rockford 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 Rockford.
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.