On CDC estimates, Steger is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Steger differs from Illinois on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Steger. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Steger
Mental distress runs high in Steger
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.9%), vs 15.6% across Illinois. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 29%, vs 25.4% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Steger
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (24.2%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Utility shut-off threats (12.1% vs 7.8%) and no reliable transportation (11.9% vs 8%) are higher too. 23.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Steger
54.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 16.2% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
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 Steger’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Steger’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Steger is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns, #682 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 41% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Steger’s median household income is $66,575; among the 10,148 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Steger compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
How Steger adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Steger runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Steger 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.
23.4% of Steger adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Steger adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Out of every 100 Steger adults…
Steger runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Steger
No hospital or community health center in Steger 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 Steger; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Steger and the towns around it
Steger’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steger | C− | 40.3% | 13.2% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Crete | B− | 41.3% | 13.2% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| South Chicago Heights | C− | 36.7% | 14.5% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Sauk Village | D | 42.7% | 16.8% | 19.1% | CDC place |
| Crete Township | B− | 40.4% | 13.3% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
| Bloom Township | C | 38.3% | 15.2% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Chicago Heights | C | 38.1% | 15.4% | 14.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Steger adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Steger
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Steger is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Steger’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Steger | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%22.4–27 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.3–16 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%17.2–20.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.3%36.1–44.4 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.9–14.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%32.6–37.9 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.4%31.9–37 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.6%23.5–27.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%10.2–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.3–7.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%6–7.1 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.2%7.3–9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.2%13.9–18.8 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14.3–18.1 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%26.7–33.2 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%15.4–19.6 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.8%36.8–44.8 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%74.6–79.6 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.7%51.5–57.7 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%83.3–86.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.3%72.9–77.4 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.2%53.4–61 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.7%63.8–75.1 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.8–23.5 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%33.7–40.3 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29%26.3–32 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.2%21.9–26.7 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.3%17.4–21.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.9%10.8–13.2 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.4%20.8–26.2 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%30–36.1 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%14.5–17.6 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.8–18 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%6–7.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.6%6.1–7.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.4–11.3 | 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 Steger
Is Steger a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Steger is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #682 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 Steger?
CDC estimates 40.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 44.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Steger?
Franciscan Health Dyer in Dyer, 5.1 miles in a straight line from Steger’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Steger have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–14.5%), 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 Steger 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 Steger.
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.