Photo: Captainandy1310 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Westchester is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Westchester differs from Illinois on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Westchester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Westchester
Westchester keeps up with checkups
It beats Illinois on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (80.6% vs 77.8%) and dentist visits (67.5% vs 63.4%). Checkups ↓
Westchester is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Hillside (B). Around town ↓
Cancer runs high in Westchester
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.1%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Illinois 17%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Westchester adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Westchester’s likely range.
What’s behind Westchester’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Westchester is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns, #142 of 767 in Illinois. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 95% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 62%.
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). Westchester’s median household income is $98,954; among the 8,742 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$124K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Westchester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Westchester and the towns around it
Westchester has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester | A | 28.9% | 11.3% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Hillside | B | 34.1% | 13.4% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Bellwood | C+ | 38.9% | 16% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| Broadview | C+ | 38% | 16.2% | 13.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Westchester adults…
Westchester runs below IL on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Westchester is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Illinois. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Westchester as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10.1% of Westchester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Care in and near Westchester
No hospital or community health center in Westchester 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 Westchester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
7.6 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Westchester adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Westchester does better than Illinois.
1 in 3 Westchester 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 Westchester adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Westchester
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Westchester is better than Illinois on 14 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Westchester’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Westchester | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.2%14.5–18.2 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.9–12.2 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.6–14.3 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.9%25.6–32.1 | 34% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 11.3%10–12.6 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33%30.4–35.6 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%34.6–40.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.4%23.1–27.6 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.6–10.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.1%8.3–9.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.2–6.3 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%4.9–6.4 | 6.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.4–8.1 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%7.9–10.5 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.9%17.5–22.6 | 23% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.2%15.3–19.2 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%30.2–37.1 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.5–10 | 9.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%78.3–82.7 | 77.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.5%64.6–70.3 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91.5%90.4–92.4 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.7–80.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65%61.2–68.6 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%71.6–81.8 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 17.9%15.8–20 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.6%28.7–34.7 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.2%21.7–26.8 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.9%11.3–14.6 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%10–12.8 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.5–7.1 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.1%8.6–11.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.2%22.6–27.8 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.8–13.7 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.2%9–11.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.5 | 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 Westchester
Is Westchester a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Westchester is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health, #142 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Westchester?
CDC estimates 28.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.6% and 32.1%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Westchester?
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Westchester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Westchester have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10%), 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 Westchester more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Westchester.
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.