Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Waterloo is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Waterloo differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waterloo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waterloo
Cancer runs high in Waterloo
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Conditions ↓
Fewer Waterloo adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nearly everyone in Waterloo is insured
Only 5.8% 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 Waterloo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
What’s behind Waterloo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waterloo is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #208 of 767 in Illinois. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 86% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 57%.
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). Waterloo’s median household income is $98,711; among the 8,770 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 78%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Waterloo adults…
Waterloo runs below IL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.8% of Waterloo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waterloo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Waterloo
1 community health center in Waterloo, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Waterloo; ≈ 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.
1.6 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Waterloo adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Waterloo 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.
Waterloo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | A− | 35.2% | 10.1% | 11.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Waterloo adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waterloo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waterloo is better than Illinois on 9 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Waterloo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waterloo | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.2%13–17.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.5–13.8 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.3–17.5 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%26.9–44.1 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.1%8.6–11.8 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34%29.6–38.5 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%32.6–42.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%24.3–31.5 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.8–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.3%5.7–9.1 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%9.4–13.5 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.4%15.6–23.4 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%15.3–22.5 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7%27.6–42.1 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.8%4.6–7.1 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.3%75.5–82.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.3%64.5–71.9 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%87.3–90.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.1–80.4 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.5%61.9–72.6 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%62.6–79.7 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.7%18.1–25.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.2%26.2–36.8 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%18.2–25.6 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.8%7.1–10.6 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.9%6.5–9.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5%4.1–5.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.2%4.5–6.1 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.8%6.3–9.5 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.8%22.8–31 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.3–14.2 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%9.9–13.2 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.1–7.9 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3.2–4.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%5.9–7.8 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.5–3.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Waterloo
Is Waterloo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waterloo is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #208 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 78%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waterloo?
CDC estimates 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.9% and 44.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waterloo?
Red Bud Regional Hospital in Red Bud, 12.4 miles in a straight line from Waterloo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waterloo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7.1%), 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 Waterloo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waterloo.
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.