Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, South Elgin is healthier than 50%
South Elgin differs from Illinois on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 11 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Elgin. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Elgin
Against towns with similar incomes, South Elgin’s lead shrinks
South Elgin is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but 50% of the 4,836 towns with similar household incomes ($95K–$159K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Stroke and heart disease are less common in South Elgin
South Elgin runs below Illinois on five chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.5% vs 3.3%), heart disease (4.6% vs 5.9%) and COPD (5.2% vs 6.3%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%). Conditions ↓
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 South Elgin’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind South Elgin’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Elgin is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #219 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 87% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 66%.
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). South Elgin’s median household income is $127,203; among the 4,836 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($95K–$159K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 South Elgin adults…
South Elgin runs below IL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of South Elgin residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near South Elgin
No hospital or community health center in South Elgin 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 South Elgin; ≈ 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.
2.7 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of South Elgin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How South Elgin adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 South Elgin 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.
10.8% of South Elgin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
South Elgin and the towns around it
South Elgin’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Elgin | A− | 34% | 9.8% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Elgin | B | 35.8% | 12.1% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Bartlett | A | 27.4% | 9.6% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| St. Charles Township | A | 31.9% | 9.6% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
| Elgin Township | — | — | — | — |
Elgin Township: the same community as Elgin, graded once. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Elgin adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Elgin
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Elgin is better than Illinois on 11 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside South Elgin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Elgin | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.1%14–18.5 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10–13 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.1–18 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%28.6–40.2 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.6–11.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.5%24.3–31.1 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.2%28.6–36.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.3%18.8–24.3 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.4–10.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6–7.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.1–5.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.2%4.5–5.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.1%6.5–10.1 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%9.7–13.3 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.2%17.8–25.1 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.7–23.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30.7–42.2 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.8–10.5 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75%71.5–78.6 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.1%62.8–69.8 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.8–88.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.9%68.4–75.5 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.3%52.4–62.7 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.8%66.4–81.1 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.9%16.9–23.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%28.2–37.4 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%21.4–28.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13%11.1–15.1 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.9–13.4 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%6–7.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.8%9.3–12.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.9%20.6–27.6 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10%8.7–11.6 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.7–13.9 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.9–7.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.3 | 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 South Elgin
Is South Elgin a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Elgin is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #219 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 South Elgin?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 40.2%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Elgin?
Saint Joseph Hospital-Elgin in Elgin, 3.2 miles in a straight line from South Elgin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Elgin have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.5%), 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 South Elgin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Elgin.
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.