Photo: bogdanstepniak · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Wheeling is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Wheeling differs from Illinois on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wheeling. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wheeling
What’s behind Wheeling’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wheeling is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns, #189 of 767 in Illinois. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 91% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 64%.
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). Wheeling’s median household income is $85,205; among the 10,395 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Wheeling
1 community health center in Wheeling, 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 Wheeling; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Wheeling adults…
Wheeling runs below IL on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
4 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Wheeling adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Wheeling adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Wheeling does better than Illinois.
1 in 3 Wheeling 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.
12% of Wheeling adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Wheeling and the towns around it
Wheeling’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | A− | 27.4% | 10.7% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| Buffalo Grove | A+ | 26.3% | 9.5% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Prospect Heights | A | 27% | 9.8% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| Arlington Heights | A+ | 25.2% | 9% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Wheeling Township | A | 26.2% | 9.7% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
| Vernon Township | A+ | 27.9% | 9.6% | 7.3% | ZIP codes |
| Northfield Township | A+ | 23.4% | 9.9% | 7.1% | ZIP codes |
| Northbrook | A+ | 22.7% | 9.7% | 6.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wheeling adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wheeling
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wheeling is better than Illinois on 9 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Wheeling’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wheeling | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.8%16–19.7 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%10.2–12.5 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.5–15.3 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.4%24.2–30.4 | 34% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.3%25.9–30.6 | 33% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%32.5–37.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.3%19.3–23.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.9%8–9.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.5%4.8–6.1 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.7%8.9–12.9 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%9–11.7 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.5%19.9–25.1 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%16.3–20.5 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%30.8–37.9 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.5%11–14.2 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%73.8–78.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.6%59.5–65.6 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.6–89.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%71.2–76.6 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.6%54.6–62.3 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%68.3–79.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.2%16.1–20.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%30.4–36.5 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%23.6–28.9 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.4%14.7–18.2 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.7–14.7 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.5 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%10.3–13.7 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.6%23.1–28.1 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.5%10.2–12.8 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%10.4–13 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.4 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.2–5 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%6.1–7.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.9–3.5 | 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 Wheeling
Is Wheeling a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wheeling is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #189 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wheeling?
CDC estimates 27.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.2% and 30.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wheeling?
Northwest Community Hospital 1 in Arlington Heights, 5.6 miles in a straight line from Wheeling’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wheeling have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–14.2%), 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 Wheeling 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 Wheeling.
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.