Vernon is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Vernon differs from Illinois on 13 of 40 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (5.6% vs 9.9%) and fewer adults facing housing insecurity (8% vs 13.2%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (11% vs 7.6%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vernon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vernon
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Vernon’s Health Grade: A+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Vernon is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns and 98% of Illinois towns.
About what its income would suggest. Vernon does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 the 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): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Vernon 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. 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.
Care in and near Vernon
No hospital or community health center in Vernon 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 Vernon; ≈ 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 Vernon 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.
9.4% of Vernon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Out of every 100 Vernon adults…
Vernon runs above IL on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Vernon is #20 of 819 in IL for the most active adults.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Vernon adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Vernon 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vernon adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
All 40 CDC measures for Vernon
| Measure | Vernon | Likely range | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.4% | 33.6–43.2% | 33% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 39.9% | 34.9–45% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36% | 27.7–45.1% | 34% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2% | 27–35.4% | 24.2% | worse |
| Depression | 21.7% | 18.2–25.5% | 19.8% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 8.7% | 6.9–10.8% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.1% | 8.7–11.5% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 11% | 9.7–12.5% | 7.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12.1% | 10–14.4% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.1% | 6.1–10.3% | 6.3% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.9% | 6.6–9.4% | 5.9% | worse |
| Stroke | 3.8% | 3.1–4.5% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7% | 10.2–17.5% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 17.4% | 14.2–21.1% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 22.2% | 16.9–27.6% | 23% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1% | 25.4–39.5% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 80.3% | 76.5–83.8% | 77.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 69.4% | 65.6–73% | 63.4% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 89.8% | 87.8–91.8% | 87.4% | better |
| Colon screening | 71.4% | 65.7–76.8% | 60.2% | better |
| Mammogram | 72.3% | 63.6–80.3% | 73.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.9% | 76.3–83.1% | 75.7% | better |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 3.9–8% | 9.9% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 30.6% | 25.2–36.4% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22% | 17.7–26.7% | 25.4% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.4% | 13.1–17.8% | 15.6% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18% | 14–22.3% | 18.6% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.8% | 11.3–16.4% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 9.8% | 6.8–13.3% | 15.9% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 8% | 5.9–10.3% | 13.2% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.2% | 4–6.5% | 7.8% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 5.5% | 4.3–6.9% | 8% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 9.4% | 6.3–12.9% | 13.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9% | 24.5–35.4% | 27.6% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.5% | 11.2–17.9% | 12.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.1% | 9.8–14.8% | 12.6% | |
| Hearing | 8.5% | 7.2–9.9% | 6.2% | |
| Vision | 4.2% | 3.3–5.2% | 4.8% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.7% | 2.8–4.6% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 7.6% | 6–9.3% | 7.6% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Vernon door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Illinois figure falls inside it, we don’t call Vernon better or worse.
CDC publishes Vernon directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Vernon.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
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.