Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Worth is healthier than 79%
Worth trails Illinois on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Worth. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Worth
Every town around Worth scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Worth’s B−, from Chicago Ridge (B+) to Palos Heights (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Worth
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.7%), vs 15.9% across Illinois. No reliable transportation (9.9% vs 8%) and utility shut-off threats (9.5% vs 7.8%) are higher too. 19.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.8% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Depression is more common in Worth
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (23%), vs 19.8% across Illinois. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18%, vs 15.6% across Illinois. Mind & connection ↓
Worth is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Worth is healthier than 48%. Against the 7,816 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 79%. 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 Worth’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Worth’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Worth is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #501 of 767 in Illinois. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 73% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 31%).
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). Worth’s median household income is $56,288; among the 7,816 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Worth and the towns around it
Worth’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worth | B− | 32.6% | 11.6% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Chicago Ridge | B+ | 31.2% | 10.3% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Palos Heights | A | 26.8% | 11.4% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Palos Hills | A− | 29.3% | 10.4% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.4% of Worth adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
How Worth adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Worth runs above Illinois.
1 in 3 Worth 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.
Out of every 100 Worth adults…
Worth runs above IL on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Worth
No hospital or community health center in Worth 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 Worth; ≈ 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.
0.9 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Worth adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Worth adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Worth
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Worth is better than Illinois on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Worth’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Worth | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19.5–24.1 | 18.6% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.6–15.5 | 12.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.2–19.7 | 15.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.6%29.1–35.9 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10.3–12.9 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.6%29.2–34 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.4%32.7–37.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.7%22.6–26.7 | 24.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.5–11.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.3%7.2–9.3 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–3.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.7%12.2–17.4 | 10.3% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.9–18.2 | 12.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%22.4–28.4 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.8%17.6–22 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%32.7–39.9 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.9%10.3–13.7 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%72.8–77.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.3%55.1–61.4 | 63.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.5–87 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.4%70.5–75.9 | 75.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.8%53.8–61.6 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.7%64.6–76.4 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20.5–25.5 | 19.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%31.6–37.9 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%23.6–29.2 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.7%18.2–23.3 | 15.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.9%14.1–17.9 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.4%16.7–22.3 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%28–33.9 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%12.8–16.1 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.8–17.3 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.5 | 6.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 4.8% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Worth
Is Worth a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Worth is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #501 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 Worth?
CDC estimates 32.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 35.9%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Worth?
Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Worth’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Worth have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13.7%), 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 Worth more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Worth.
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.