Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Wood River is healthier than 68%
Wood River differs from Illinois on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wood River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wood River
Mental distress runs high in Wood River
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.8%), vs 15.6% across Illinois. Depression is above the state too: 23.6%, vs 19.8% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Wood River
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.4%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓
Wood River is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wood River is healthier than 47%. Against the 9,549 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 68%. Health Grade ↓
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 Wood River’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Wood River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wood River is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #512 of 767 in Illinois. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 70% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Wood River’s median household income is $62,703; among the 9,549 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 68%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Wood River compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 7.8% (U.S. 11%).
How Wood River adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Wood River runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Wood River 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Wood River adults…
Wood River runs above IL on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wood River
No hospital or community health center in Wood River 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 Wood River; ≈ 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 Wood River 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.
13.9% of Wood River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Wood River and the towns around it
Wood River’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood River | B− | 39.2% | 10.8% | 15.4% | CDC place |
| Rosewood Heights | B− | 38% | 11.7% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| East Alton | C− | 41% | 12.3% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Roxana | C | 40.6% | 12% | 16.8% | CDC place |
| Bethalto | B | 37.4% | 10.9% | 13.3% | CDC place |
| Hartford | C | 40% | 12.2% | 16.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wood River adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wood River
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wood River is better than Illinois on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Wood River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wood River | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.3%16.7–21.9 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.5–15.9 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.6–21.1 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%32.4–46.4 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.3–12.4 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%30.7–38.6 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.4%31.3–39.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.5%24.3–30.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.7–7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%12.6–18.7 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%13.1–17.7 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.3%19.4–27.5 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%15.9–22.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%30.9–44.4 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.6–9.4 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%72.7–80.2 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.3%55.2–63.3 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.1–87 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.5%71.2–77.5 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.9%55.3–66.1 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%63.3–79.7 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.6%20.1–27.3 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%30–39.9 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.2%22.8–30 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%12.8–17.1 | 15.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.7–14.1 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 7.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.9%12–16 | 13.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%27.9–36.3 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.6%12.9–16.5 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.2–8 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.1 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%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 Wood River
Is Wood River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wood River is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #512 of 767 in Illinois. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wood River?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 46.4%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wood River?
Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Wood River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wood River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–9.4%), 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 Wood River 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 Wood River.
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.