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≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Virden · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Virden is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns

Virden differs from Illinois on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 6 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Virden

COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Virden

1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.3%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.8%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.2%, vs 5.9% across Illinois. In all, Virden runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Smoking is more common in Virden

1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.1%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓

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 Virden’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Virden’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Virden is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns, #477 of 767 in Illinois. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 62% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 44%).

B−Self-rated health19% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
B−Physical distress14.1% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
C+Mental distress17.4% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.5% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes11.9% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking15.1% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise23.9% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 52%
Less healthyHealthier
Illinois towns we grade (767)Healthier than 38%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $60K–$101K (10,725)Healthier than 51%

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). Virden’s median household income is $80,577; among the 10,725 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$101K), it’s healthier than 51%, about where its income would put it.

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

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Virden adults…

Virden runs above IL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 Virden adults have COPD
Illinois: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.1–9.6%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.9%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.4%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 18%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 15.1%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Virden, betterVirden, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where Virden gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Getting care

Care in and near Virden

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

HNearest ERCarlinville Area HospitalCarlinville · 16.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCarlinville Area Hospital★★★★★ · 16.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careMacoupin, County ofCarlinville · 16.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
16.3 mi
Macoupin, County of
2 sites · nearest in Carlinville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.6 mi
Carlinville Area Hospital
Carlinville · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
20.7 mi
Central Counties Health Centers
3 sites · nearest in Springfield
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
21.9 mi
St. Johns Hospital
Springfield · ★★★★★
ER
23 mi
Memorial Medical Center
Springfield · ★★★★★
ER
23.5 mi
St. Francis Hospital
Litchfield · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Virden itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Virden itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Virden 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 Virden; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupIL 78%
63%Dentist visitIL 63%
87%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
62%Colon screeningIL 60%
73%MammogramIL 74%
77%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Virden 7.4% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How Virden adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3Virden adults feel lonely
32.6% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Virden adults lack social or emotional support
24% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 4Virden adults have been diagnosed with depression
23% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6Virden adults are in frequent mental distress
17.4% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Virden 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.

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 8
Virden adults worry about having enough food
12.6% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 10
Virden adults worry about keeping their housing
10.2% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 15
Virden adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.6% · IL 7.8%
About the same as IL
1 in 14
Virden adults lack reliable transportation
6.9% · IL 8%
About the same as IL

12.3% of Virden adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Around town

Virden and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Virden Township: 36.9%Auburn Township: 38.3%Girard Township: 38.1%North Otter Township: 37.7%Bois D'Arc Township: 37.6%Chatham Township: 36.8%Divernon Township: 39.6%Talkington Township: 39.3%Virden: 36.5%VirdenVirden TownshipAuburn Township
Healthier than ILNear ILLess healthy
Obesity
#1 of 9 towns on this map, healthiest first
Virden36.5%
Virden Township36.9%
Auburn Township38.3%
IL34%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
VirdenB−36.5%11.9%15.1%CDC place
Auburn TownshipB+38.3%10.4%14%ZIP codes
Virden Township————

Virden Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

31.4%

of Virden adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.8%
Thinking or memory13.9%
Hearing7.9%
Errands alone8.6%
Vision4.7%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Illinois

Every CDC estimate for Virden

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Virden is better than Illinois on 3 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Virden’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…VirdenILU.S.vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health19%16.1–22.118.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14.1%12.2–16.112.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.4%15.2–19.715.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity36.5%28.9–44.934%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.9%10.2–13.711.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure36.7%32.6–41.133%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)37.5%33.1–42.235.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis29.4%26–3324.2%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.5%9.3–11.99.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.8%8.8–10.87.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.2%6.4–8.15.9%6.4%Worse
COPD8.3%7.1–9.66.3%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.8%3.4–4.23.3%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.7%10.2–15.510.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.1%12.5–17.912.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work23.9%19.4–28.823%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18%15–21.717.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35.4%28.3–4335.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.4%5.8–9.29.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year78.3%74.5–81.877.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year63.1%59.1–67.163.4%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years87%84.9–8987.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77.4%74.2–80.275.7%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)62%56.4–67.260.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)72.7%63.8–80.573.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression23%19.6–26.819.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.6%27.5–38.733.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support24%20.4–28.325.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.6%10.2–15.115.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing10.2%8.5–12.113.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.6%5.6–7.87.8%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation6.9%5.9–88%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)12.3%10.1–14.913.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability31.4%26.8–36.227.6%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.8%12.7–17.212.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.9%11.9–15.912.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.9%6.9–8.96.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.7%4.1–5.34.8%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.6%7.4–9.87.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.7%3.3–4.23.5%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 Virden

Is Virden a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Virden is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #477 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 51%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Virden?

CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.9% and 44.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Virden?

Carlinville Area Hospital in Carlinville, 16.6 miles in a straight line from Virden’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in Virden have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–9.2%), 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 Virden 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 Virden.

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.