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Douglas County Illinois Courthouse MonumentPhoto: Dual Freq · CC BY 2.5
≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Tuscola · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Tuscola is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns

Tuscola differs from Illinois on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tuscola. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Tuscola

The nearest ER is 21 miles from Tuscola

The closest emergency room is Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, 21.2 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation is closer (12.8 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓

Fewer Tuscola adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

Cancer runs high in Tuscola

1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Conditions ↓

Nearly everyone in Tuscola is insured

Only 6.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Illinois. 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 Tuscola’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Tuscola’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tuscola is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns, #388 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 73% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 36%).

B+Self-rated health16.9% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress12.9% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress17.3% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
C+Obesity37.9% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.6% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking13.6% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise22% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 64%
Less healthyHealthier
Illinois towns we grade (767)Healthier than 49%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $59K–$98K (10,814)Healthier than 73%

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). Tuscola’s median household income is $78,179; among the 10,814 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.

Most Illinois towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Tuscola is healthier than 49% of graded towns, against 64% nationally.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Tuscola could be anywhere from C to A. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Tuscola

No hospital or community health center in Tuscola itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERSarah Bush Lincoln Health CenterMattoon · 21.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSouthern Illinois Healthcare FoundationArthur · 12.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
12.8 mi
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
3 sites · nearest in Arthur
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.9 mi
Promise Healthcare NFP
4 sites · nearest in Champaign
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
21.2 mi
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center
Mattoon · ★★★★★
ER
22.4 mi
Carle Foundation Hospital
Urbana · ★★★★★
ER
22.4 mi
OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center
Urbana · ★★★★★
ER
23.7 mi
Kirby Medical Center
Monticello · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Tuscola itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Tuscola itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Tuscola itself

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 Tuscola; ≈ 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 needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 9
Tuscola adults worry about having enough food
11.3% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 10
Tuscola adults worry about keeping their housing
9.8% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 16
Tuscola adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.3% · IL 7.8%
Better than IL
1 in 15
Tuscola adults lack reliable transportation
6.5% · IL 8%
Better than IL

10.6% of Tuscola adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Tuscola adults…

Tuscola runs above IL on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Tuscola adults have had cancer
Illinois: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.2–10.2%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Tuscola adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

78%Yearly checkupIL 78%
64%Dentist visitIL 63%
87%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
62%Colon screeningIL 60%
70%MammogramIL 74%
76%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Tuscola 6.6% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 22%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.8%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 19.1%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 13.6%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Tuscola, betterTuscola, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Tuscola gets moving

0.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Tuscola adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3Tuscola adults feel lonely
32.6% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Tuscola adults lack social or emotional support
23.5% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Tuscola adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.1% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6Tuscola adults are in frequent mental distress
17.3% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Tuscola adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Tuscola and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
TuscolaB37.9%10.6%13.6%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.1%

of Tuscola adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.9%
Thinking or memory13.2%
Hearing7%
Errands alone7.8%
Vision4.1%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Illinois

Every CDC estimate for Tuscola

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tuscola is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Tuscola’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…TuscolaILU.S.vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health16.9%14.2–19.818.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.9%11–14.812.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.3%14.9–19.615.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity37.9%28.8–46.534%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.6%8.9–12.411.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure34.2%29.6–38.533%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.2%31.3–40.735.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis27.5%23.9–31.124.2%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.5%9.1–11.89.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.1%8.2–10.27.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.3%5.4–7.15.9%6.4%About the same
COPD7%5.9–8.26.3%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.2%2.8–3.73.3%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)10.5%8.3–13.210.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.6%11–16.212.1%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work22%17.5–26.723%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking19.1%15.5–22.717.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35.8%28.8–43.535.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.6%5.2–8.39.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year77.8%73.8–81.477.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year63.6%59.5–67.463.4%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years87%84.7–88.987.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76%72.6–78.975.7%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)61.7%56.1–67.260.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)69.9%64.7–74.973.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23.1%19.2–2719.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.6%27.4–38.233.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support23.5%19.7–27.825.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food11.3%9.1–13.815.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing9.8%8–11.713.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.3%5.2–7.47.8%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6.5%5.5–7.68%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)10.6%8.4–1313.8%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability29.1%24.4–33.927.6%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs12.9%10.8–15.212.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.2%11.3–15.312.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7%6.1–86.2%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.1%3.6–4.74.8%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone7.8%6.6–8.97.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.2%2.8–3.73.5%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 Tuscola

Is Tuscola a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tuscola is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #388 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Tuscola?

CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 46.5%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Tuscola?

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, 21.2 miles in a straight line from Tuscola’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Tuscola have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8.3%), 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 Tuscola more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Tuscola.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.