Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, West Chicago is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
West Chicago differs from Illinois on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Chicago. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Chicago
Every town around West Chicago scores healthier
All six graded neighbors are ahead of West Chicago’s B+, from Wayne Township (A) to Geneva Township (A). Around town ↓
Many West Chicago adults are uninsured, but health holds up
1 in 6 working-age adults has no health insurance (16.2%, vs 9.9% across Illinois). Yet the share who say their health is fair or poor, 20.2%, is about level with the state’s 18.6%. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in West Chicago
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.2%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. Housing insecurity (16.5% vs 13.2%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Cancer and arthritis are less common in West Chicago
West Chicago runs below Illinois on five chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.8% vs 7.6%), arthritis (19.6% vs 24.2%) and stroke (2.7% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%). 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 West Chicago’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind West Chicago’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Chicago is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #348 of 767 in Illinois. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 78% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). West Chicago’s median household income is $99,927; among the 8,611 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$125K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
West Chicago and the towns around it
West Chicago’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Chicago | B+ | 33.6% | 11.4% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| St. Charles | A | 32% | 9.5% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Wayne | A | 29.5% | 10.2% | 8.8% | CDC place |
| St. Charles Township | A | 31.9% | 9.6% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
| Geneva Township | A | 31.6% | 9.1% | 8.5% | ZIP codes |
| Batavia | A | 32.3% | 9.4% | 9% | CDC place |
| Wayne Township | A | 30.1% | 10.4% | 10.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Chicago adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.5% of West Chicago adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Out of every 100 West Chicago adults…
West Chicago runs below IL on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of West Chicago residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near West Chicago
1 community health center in West Chicago, 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 West Chicago; ≈ 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.
24 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
How West Chicago adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 West Chicago 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Chicago adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Chicago
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Chicago is better than Illinois on 6 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside West Chicago’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Chicago | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.9–22.8 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%10.9–13.9 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.5–17.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.6%28.9–38.8 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%9.9–13.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.2%26.1–32.5 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%30.9–37.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.6%17.4–22.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.9%7.9–10.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.6 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.3%4.6–5.9 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.6–15.8 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%10–13.6 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.6%22–29.4 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.7–19.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%33.4–43.7 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.2%14–18.5 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.2%71.7–78.6 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.6–63.7 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.2–87 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73%69.8–76.2 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.7%51.7–61.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%65.8–80.1 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.3%14.8–20.1 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.3%31.1–39.6 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%23.7–30.7 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.2%17.7–22.9 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.5%14.3–18.6 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%8.4–10.8 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.5%13.3–17.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.7%23.4–30.3 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%10.9–14.2 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.5%11.9–15.2 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4 | 3.5% | 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 West Chicago
Is West Chicago a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Chicago is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #348 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 54%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Chicago?
CDC estimates 33.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.9% and 38.8%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Chicago?
Northwestern Medicine Central Dupage Hospital in Winfield, 3.6 miles in a straight line from West Chicago’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Chicago have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14–18.5%), 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 West Chicago 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 West Chicago.
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.