Photo: Adam Moss · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Thomson is healthier than 54%
Thomson differs from Illinois on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Thomson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Thomson
Making ends meet is harder in Thomson
1 in 7 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (13.8%), vs 7.8% across Illinois. Food insecurity (24.3% vs 15.9%) and housing insecurity (21.7% vs 13.2%) are higher too. 22.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Thomson
52.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 63.4% across Illinois. Among those 65 and older, 18.4% have lost all their teeth (Illinois 10.3%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Thomson
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.5%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Thomson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Thomson is healthier than 36%. Against the 9,234 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 54%. 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 Thomson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Thomson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Thomson is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 74% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Thomson’s median household income is $61,250; among the 9,234 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
Where Thomson compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.2% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 17.9% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.5% of Thomson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Thomson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Out of every 100 Thomson adults…
Thomson runs below IL on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 8% of Thomson residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Thomson
No hospital or community health center in Thomson 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 Thomson; ≈ 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).
How Thomson adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Thomson runs above Illinois.
4 in 10 Thomson 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.
Thomson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson | C+ | 44.9% | 10.5% | 19.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Thomson adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Thomson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Thomson is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Thomson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Thomson | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.6%18.7–26.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%10.8–14.7 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%15.7–20.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%35.7–54.3 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.5%8.9–12.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.1%29.6–38.9 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.2%25.1–33.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.9%15.4–20.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%4.9–6.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.4%15–22.3 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%15.5–23.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.3%21.2–31.8 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 23.1%19.2–27.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43%35.4–50.9 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.6%11.9–20 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.4%66.7–76 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.4%48.4–56.6 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.9%76.5–83.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 62.9%58.6–67.4 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 49.5%43.8–55.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.3%59.4–77 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.4%14.4–20.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%31–42.8 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.8%29.7–40.1 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.3%19.1–29.8 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.7%17.3–26 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.8%11.1–16.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.3%10–14.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.5%17.2–27.8 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%25.3–35.6 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.1%9.3–13.3 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%13.3–18.8 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%6.9–9.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.3–4.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Thomson
Is Thomson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Thomson is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Thomson?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 54.3%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Thomson?
Mercyone Clinton Medical Center in Clinton, 8.8 miles in a straight line from Thomson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Thomson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.9–20%), 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 Thomson 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 Thomson.
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.