Health · Decatur

Decatur, IL health

Decatur differs from Illinois on 21 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (17.2% vs 10.3%) and more adults facing a utility shut-off (12.1% vs 7.8%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Decatur
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Decatur’s Health Grade: C−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Decatur is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, and than 38% of towns with similar incomes.

C-Self-rated healthCPhysical distressC-Mental distressDObesityC-DiabetesC-SmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 17%
Less healthyHealthier
Illinois towns we grade (1,344)Healthier than 5%
Towns with similar incomes, $39K–$64K (5,908)Healthier than 38%

Better than its income would suggest. Decatur is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C−.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Decatur 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 Decatur 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. Decatur 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 Decatur 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

Out of every 100 Decatur adults…

40 of every 100 Decatur adults have high blood pressure
Illinois: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 36.1–44.8%

Bars show Decatur; the black tick is Illinois. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Decatur, betterDecatur, worseToo close to callIllinois
Get no exerciseshare of adults 28.7% Decatur
IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 39.6% Decatur
IL 35.4%
Binge drinkshare of adults 15.6% Decatur
IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 17.2% Decatur
IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Decatur adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

79%
Yearly checkup
IL 78%
57%
Dentist visit
IL 63%
85%
Cholesterol check
IL 87%
63%
Colon screening
IL 60%
71%
Mammogram
IL 74%
78%
Taking BP meds
IL 76%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Decatur 9.5% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How Decatur adults are doing

1 in 3Decatur adults feel lonely
35.6% · Illinois 33.5% · too close to call
1 in 5Decatur adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.1% · Illinois 19.8% · too close to call
1 in 4Decatur adults lack social or emotional support
27.6% · Illinois 25.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Decatur adults are in frequent mental distress
18.7% · 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 5
Decatur adults worry about having enough food
22.1% · IL 15.9% · worse
1 in 6
Decatur adults worry about keeping their housing
16.8% · IL 13.2% · worse
1 in 8
Decatur adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
12.1% · IL 7.8% · worse
1 in 9
Decatur adults lack reliable transportation
11.3% · IL 8% · worse

23.8% of Decatur adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Disability

Living with a disability

35%

of Decatur adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs17.7%
Thinking or memory16%
Hearing7.7%
Errands alone10.9%
Vision6.7%
Dressing or bathing5.2%

Black tick: Illinois. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Decatur

Decatur and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Decatur.

Forsyth: 34.9% Mount Zion: 37.2% Oakley: 39.3% Whitmore: 40.5% Harristown: 38.7% Decatur: 43.8% South Wheatland: 40.9% Long Creek: 39% Long Creek: 40.7% Cerro Gordo: 36.5% Willow Branch: 36.2% Hickory Point: 43.1% Friends Creek: 38.9% Harristown: 43% South Macon: 38.2% Blue Mound: 39.7% Mount Zion: 39.9% Decatur: 44.4% Decatur Forsyth Mount Zion Oakley Whitmore Harristown Decatur South Wheatland Long Creek Long Creek Decatur Memorial Hospital · Decatur · 1.6 mi · 3★ MedicareH St. Marys Hospital · Decatur · 2 mi · 1★ MedicareH Elements at Crossing Healthcare · Decatur · 1 mi+ Siu Center for Family Medicine-Decatur · Decatur · 1.5 mi+
34.9%44.4%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#18 of 18towns on this map, healthiest first
Forsyth34.9%
Mount Zion37.2%
Harristown38.7%
Long Creek39%
Oakley39.3%
Whitmore40.5%
Long Creek40.7%
South Wheatland40.9%
Decatur43.8%
Decatur44.4%
6 places to get careNearest ER 1.6 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Decatur

2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Decatur, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERDecatur Memorial HospitalDecatur · 1.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbySt. Marys Hospital★★★★★ · 2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Improvement CenterDecatur · 1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1 mi
Community Health Improvement Center
3 sites · nearest in Decatur
Sliding-scale feesIn Decatur
Directions to nearest
1.5 mi
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
3 sites · nearest in Decatur
Sliding-scale feesIn Decatur
Directions to nearest
1.6 mi
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur · ★★★★★
ERIn Decatur
2 mi
St. Marys Hospital
Decatur · ★★★★★
ERIn Decatur
20.3 mi
Warner Hospital and Health Services
Clinton · not rated
ERRural critical access
24.2 mi
Kirby Medical Center
Monticello · not rated
ERRural critical access
! Primary careDecatur's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Macon County · need score 17 of 25
! Dental careDecatur's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Macon County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthDecatur'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 Decatur. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Decatur
MeasureDecaturMarginIllinois
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure40.4%36.1–44.8%33%worse
High cholesterol38.1%33.7–42.7%35.4%about the same
Obesity44.4%36.3–52.9%34%worse
Arthritis29.7%26.4–33.2%24.2%worse
Depression22.1%18.7–25.8%19.8%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)17.2%14–20.6%10.3%worse
Asthma11.4%10.1–12.9%9.9%worse
Cancer (not skin)8.5%7.7–9.4%7.6%worse
Diabetes14.5%12.7–16.4%11.7%worse
COPD9.4%8.4–10.3%6.3%worse
Heart disease7.7%6.9–8.5%5.9%worse
Stroke4.5%4.2–4.8%3.3%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.2%15.1–19.5%12.1%worse
Binge drink15.6%12.7–18.7%17.8%about the same
Get no exercise28.7%24.3–33.3%23%worse
Sleep under 7 hours39.6%32.8–46.8%35.4%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup79.1%75.4–82.5%77.8%about the same
Dentist visit56.7%52.5–60.5%63.4%worse
Cholesterol check85.4%83.7–87.1%87.4%worse
Colon screening62.7%57.2–68%60.2%about the same
Mammogram71%62.1–78.9%73.5%about the same
Taking BP meds77.7%74.9–80.3%75.7%about the same
No health insurance9.5%8.2–10.8%9.9%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely35.6%30.5–41.3%33.5%about the same
Lack emotional support27.6%23.8–31.7%25.4%about the same
Frequent mental distress18.7%16.6–20.8%15.6%worse
Fair or poor health24%21.3–26.8%18.6%worse
Frequent physical distress15.4%13.7–17.3%12.2%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity22.1%19.7–24.9%15.9%worse
Housing insecurity16.8%14.8–19.1%13.2%worse
Utility shut-off threat12.1%10.7–13.7%7.8%worse
No reliable transportation11.3%10.1–12.7%8%worse
Receive SNAP23.8%21.4–26.5%13.8%
Disability
Any disability35%30.7–39.4%27.6%
Walking or climbing stairs17.7%15.7–19.9%12.8%
Thinking or memory16%14.3–17.8%12.6%
Hearing7.7%6.8–8.6%6.2%
Vision6.7%6.2–7.3%4.8%
Dressing or bathing5.2%4.8–5.6%3.5%
Errands alone10.9%9.8–12%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 Decatur door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Illinois figure falls inside it, we don't call Decatur better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Decatur 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.

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