Watson, IL health
Watson differs from Illinois on 5 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (17.2% vs 12.1%) and more adults with COPD (8% vs 6.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for WatsonWatson’s Health Grade: B
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Watson is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns and 52% of Illinois towns.
About what its income would suggest. Watson 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 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 Watson 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. Watson 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.
How Watson 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Watson adults…
Bars show Watson; the black tick is Illinois. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
IL 23%
IL 35.4%
IL 17.8%
IL 12.1%
Keeping up with care
Share of Watson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Watson adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.9% of Watson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Living with a disability
of Watson adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Illinois. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Watson 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 Watson.
Obesity
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
Care in and near Watson
No hospital or community health center in Watson 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 Watson. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Watson
| Measure | Watson | Margin | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 33.1% | 28.6–37.3% | 33% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 34.2% | 29.7–38.6% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.1% | 27.5–44.6% | 34% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 26.1% | 22.6–29.3% | 24.2% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.4% | 20.3–28.3% | 19.8% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.5% | 8.3–13% | 10.3% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.9% | 9.4–12.3% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4% | 7.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7% | 9–12.3% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 8% | 6.6–9.6% | 6.3% | worse |
| Heart disease | 5.9% | 5.1–6.8% | 5.9% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2% | 13.7–20.8% | 12.1% | worse |
| Binge drink | 20.1% | 16.1–23.8% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24.3% | 19.4–29.3% | 23% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.7% | 28.6–43% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.6% | 70.7–79.5% | 77.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 64.6% | 60.7–68.3% | 63.4% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.1% | 81–86.7% | 87.4% | worse |
| Colon screening | 57.6% | 51.9–63% | 60.2% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 67.7% | 57.8–76.3% | 73.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 73.4% | 69.1–76.5% | 75.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 8% | 5.9–10.4% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 34.2% | 28.8–40.4% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 25.1% | 21.1–29.9% | 25.4% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.2% | 16.6–21.7% | 15.6% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 19.8% | 16.4–23.6% | 18.6% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.1% | 12.1–16.3% | 12.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14.9% | 11.7–18.9% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 11.9% | 9.6–14.6% | 13.2% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.8% | 6.4–9.3% | 7.8% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8% | 6.6–9.6% | 8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 14.9% | 11.7–18.8% | 13.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2% | 25.4–35.3% | 27.6% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.5% | 11.2–16% | 12.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.5% | 13–18.1% | 12.6% | |
| Hearing | 6.5% | 5.6–7.4% | 6.2% | |
| Vision | 4.7% | 4–5.6% | 4.8% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 9% | 7.5–10.5% | 7.6% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.