Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0Where West Salem residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for West Salem, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Salem
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in West Salem
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 5.9% across Illinois. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.3% across Illinois. In all, West Salem runs above Illinois on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in West Salem
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.5%), vs 19.8% across Illinois. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.8%, vs 15.6% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in West Salem
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.4%), 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 West Salem’s likely range.
Out of every 100 West Salem adults…
West Salem runs above IL on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Salem is an older town: 30% 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 West Salem as about how healthy they are.
How West Salem adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, West Salem runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 West Salem 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near West Salem
No hospital or community health center in West Salem 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 West Salem; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of West Salem 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.
16.3% of West Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
West Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Salem adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in West Salem
Why doesn’t West Salem have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for West Salem.
What hospital is closest to West Salem?
Wabash General Hospital 1 in Mount Carmel, 14.7 miles in a straight line from West Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Salem.
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. 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.