Watseka Union Depot · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Watseka is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Watseka differs from Illinois on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watseka. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watseka
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Watseka
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.8%), about twice the Illinois rate. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.6%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Stroke is also above the state: 5.7%, vs 3.3% across Illinois. In all, Watseka runs above Illinois on 11 of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Watseka
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.9%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Watseka is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Watseka is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Watseka, and more people treating it
44.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Illinois 33%), but 79.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.7% statewide. 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 Watseka’s likely range.
What’s behind Watseka’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watseka is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #765 of 767 in Illinois. All seven of Watseka’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 19.1% of adults, against 12.2% across Illinois and 13% nationally.
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). Watseka’s median household income is $43,608; among the 3,534 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Watseka compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Watseka adults…
Watseka runs above IL on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Watseka is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Watseka as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Watseka adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Care in and near Watseka
1 hospital in Watseka, 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 Watseka; ≈ 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 Watseka adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Watseka runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Watseka 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27% of Watseka adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Watseka and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watseka | D− | 44.4% | 17.2% | 21.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watseka adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watseka
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watseka is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Watseka’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watseka | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.6%26.1–33.6 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%16.9–21.6 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.5–22.3 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.4%35.7–53.3 | 34% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.2%15–19.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 44.3%39.8–49 | 33% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.5%37–46.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 35.1%31.4–39 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.6%9.5–11.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.8%12–15.7 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.5%14.5–22.8 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.9%18.8–25.4 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34%28.7–39.5 | 23% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.4–18.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.4%29.9–47.2 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12%10–14.6 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%74.8–81.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.8%48.1–57.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82–86.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.1–82.3 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.8%53–66.1 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.4%63.1–74.6 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%20.9–28.6 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%29.3–41.4 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%21.8–30.9 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24%20.1–28 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.1%13.5–18.9 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.4%9.7–13.2 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10–13.4 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27%23–31.3 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.8%36.9–46.9 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23%20.2–26.1 | 12.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.4–21.2 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11%9.8–12.4 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.6%7.7–9.7 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.5%11.9–15.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%6–7.7 | 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 Watseka
Is Watseka a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watseka is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #765 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watseka?
CDC estimates 44.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 53.3%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watseka?
Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Watseka’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Watseka have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10–14.6%), 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 Watseka more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Watseka.
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.