Health · Ashland
Ashland, IL health
Ashland differs from Illinois on 13 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (10.1% vs 6.3%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (15.6% vs 10.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AshlandTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Ashland’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns.
CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressCMental distressC-ObesityC+DiabetesC-SmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 26%
Less healthyHealthier
Illinois towns we grade (1,344)Healthier than 12%
Towns with similar incomes, $51K–$85K (9,500)Healthier than 28%
About what its income would suggest. Ashland does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Ashland could be anywhere from D to B.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Illinois ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Ashland with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Ashland uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Ashland compares with Illinois
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
41.2% have obesity
0 better4 close8 worse
Habits
27% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
78.1% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
33.4% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
16.6% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
34.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Ashland adults…
39 of every 100 Ashland adults have high blood pressure
Illinois: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 34.2–43.3%
Bars show Ashland; the black tick is Illinois. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Ashland, betterAshland, worseToo close to callIllinois
Get no exerciseshare of adults
27% Ashland
IL 23%
IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
36.9% Ashland
IL 35.4%
IL 35.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults
17.3% Ashland
IL 17.8%
IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18.3% Ashland
IL 12.1%
IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Ashland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
Yearly checkup
IL 78%Dentist visit
IL 63%Cholesterol check
IL 87%Colon screening
IL 60%Mammogram
IL 74%Taking BP meds
IL 76%1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ashland 8.3% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection
How Ashland adults are doing
1 in 3Ashland adults feel lonely
33.4% · Illinois 33.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Ashland adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.7% · Illinois 19.8% · worse
1 in 4Ashland adults lack social or emotional support
24.4% · Illinois 25.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Ashland adults are in frequent mental distress
18.9% · Illinois 15.6% · worse
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 6
Ashland adults worry about having enough food
16.6% · IL 15.9% · about the same
1 in 8
Ashland adults worry about keeping their housing
12.4% · IL 13.2% · about the same
1 in 12
Ashland adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.5% · IL 7.8% · about the same
1 in 12
Ashland adults lack reliable transportation
8.6% · IL 8% · about the same
17.8% of Ashland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Disability
Living with a disability
34.5%
of Ashland adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs17%
Thinking or memory15.8%
Hearing8.4%
Errands alone10.3%
Vision5.7%
Dressing or bathing4.6%
Black tick: Illinois. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Ashland
No hospital or community health center in Ashland itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERJacksonville Memorial HospitalJacksonville · 16.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCass County Health Department - Cass County Health ClinicVirginia · 11.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.6 mi
Cass County Health Department - Cass County Health Clinic
Virginia · community health center
15.7 mi
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
5 sites · nearest in Jacksonville
Siu Center for Family Medicine-JacksonvilleJacksonville · 15.7 mi
Siu Center for Family Medicine - General Internal Medicine ClinicSpringfield · 19.3 mi
Siu Center for Healthy Aging and WellnessSpringfield · 19.8 mi
Siu Center for Family Medicine-SpringfieldSpringfield · 19.8 mi
Siu Center for Family Medicine-Integrated Wellness ClinicSpringfield · 20 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careAshland's county is a federal shortage area.Cass/Schuyler Counties · need score 13 of 25
! Dental careAshland's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Cass County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthAshland's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.LI Central Area MHCA · need score 18 of 25
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 Ashland. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Ashland
| Measure | Ashland | Margin | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.6% | 34.2–43.3% | 33% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 38.3% | 33.5–43% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.2% | 32.1–50.5% | 34% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2% | 27.5–35.1% | 24.2% | worse |
| Depression | 24.7% | 20.8–29% | 19.8% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.6% | 13.8–17.7% | 10.3% | worse |
| Asthma | 11.2% | 9.8–12.8% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.3% | 8.4–10.5% | 7.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 13.2% | 11.2–15.3% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.1% | 8.4–11.8% | 6.3% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.9% | 6.8–8.9% | 5.9% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.2% | 3.6–4.7% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.3% | 14.9–21.8% | 12.1% | worse |
| Binge drink | 17.3% | 14–20.8% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 27% | 21.9–32.5% | 23% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9% | 33.3–40.7% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.1% | 74–81.6% | 77.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58% | 55.4–60.7% | 63.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.5% | 83.1–87.7% | 87.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 59.6% | 56.4–62.9% | 60.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 71.3% | 66.6–75.8% | 73.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.1% | 73.7–80% | 75.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 6.3–10.9% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.4% | 27.9–39.3% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.4% | 20.5–29% | 25.4% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.9% | 16.5–21.5% | 15.6% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 22.7% | 18.9–26.6% | 18.6% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.8% | 13.5–18.3% | 12.2% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 16.6% | 13.2–20.6% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12.4% | 10.1–14.9% | 13.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.5% | 7.1–10.1% | 7.8% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.6% | 7.2–10.3% | 8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 17.8% | 14–22% | 13.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.5% | 29.5–40% | 27.6% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 17% | 14.1–19.9% | 12.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.8% | 13.4–18.6% | 12.6% | |
| Hearing | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6% | 6.2% | |
| Vision | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6% | 4.8% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.6% | 3.9–5.4% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 10.3% | 8.7–12% | 7.6% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Ashland door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Illinois figure falls inside it, we don't call Ashland better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Ashland directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Illinois figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.