On CDC estimates, University Park is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns
University Park differs from Illinois on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 17 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for University Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in University Park
Making ends meet is harder in University Park
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (16.1%), about twice the Illinois rate. Food insecurity (27.3% vs 15.9%) and housing insecurity (23.8% vs 13.2%) are higher too. 28.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More University Park adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (34.1%), vs 25.4% across Illinois. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.4%, vs 15.6% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Obesity, asthma and diabetes run high in University Park
1 in 2 adults have obesity (48%), vs 34% across Illinois. 1 in 8 adults have asthma (12.7%), vs 9.9% across Illinois. Diabetes is also above the state: 14.2%, vs 11.7% across Illinois. In all, University Park runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. 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 University Park’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind University Park’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University Park is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #663 of 767 in Illinois. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 74% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). University Park’s median household income is $73,844; among the 10,832 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where University Park compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.8% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.3% (U.S. 7.9%); coronary heart disease, 4.9% (U.S. 6.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
28.2% of University Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
How University Park adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, University Park runs above Illinois.
2 in 5 University Park 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.
Out of every 100 University Park adults…
University Park runs below IL on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of University Park residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near University Park
No hospital or community health center in University Park 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 University Park; ≈ 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.
10 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of University Park adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
University Park and the towns around it
University Park’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Park | C | 48% | 14.2% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Park Forest | C | 40.2% | 15.6% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Monee | C+ | 41.8% | 12.9% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Crete | B− | 41.3% | 13.2% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Richton Park | B | 37.6% | 13.8% | 11.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of University Park adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for University Park
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, University Park is better than Illinois on 5 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside University Park’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | University Park | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.5%20.4–26.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11.1–14.3 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.2–21.8 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48%42.2–54 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.5–16.1 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%35.8–43.1 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.8%26.6–33.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.6%21.1–26.4 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.3–14.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.3%3.8–4.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6%5.2–6.8 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17%13.8–20.5 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%11.8–16.5 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%25.5–34.6 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.2–17.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 47.2%41.6–53 | 35.4% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.4–10.9 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.2%78.2–83.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.7%55–62.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.5%84.6–88.4 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.6%74–79.1 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.1%57.4–66.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.6–82.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.7%15.1–20.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.6%35.9–45.4 | 33.5% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.1%30–38.5 | 25.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.3%23.1–31.5 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.8%20.4–27.1 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.1%13.9–18.6 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14%12.1–16 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 28.2%23.9–32.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2%26.3–34.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.2–17.4 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.2–17.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.7–11.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 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 University Park
Is University Park a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University Park is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #663 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in University Park?
CDC estimates 48% of adults have obesity, likely between 42.2% and 54%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to University Park?
Franciscan Health Olympia & Chicago Heights in Olympia Fields, 5.3 miles in a straight line from University Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in University Park have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–10.9%), 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 University Park 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 University Park.
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.