ZIP code
61044
in Kent, IllinoisPopulation 225
48.80/ 100
Ranked #17,929 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #856 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 37%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
6.8%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
33.4 mi
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
5.1%
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.8 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS6thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.19%
in the bottom 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.7%
in the top 13.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Kent, Illinois (ZIP 61044), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 44% nationally (17,929th) and the bottom 37% of Illinois (856th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: homeownership lands at the national maximum, modeled pfas is in the bottom 3.1% nationally, and housing-cost burden resides in the bottom 5.2% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 10.3% nationally. By contrast, distance to a community health center settles in the top 3.3% nationally, and walkability registers in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled radon lands in the top 13.2% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 61048, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.6%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
61048
Illinoisshares a border
Score 53.05
Closest healthier
61062
Illinoisshares a border
Score 49.37
Similar health profile
59077
Montana94% similar profile
Score 46.92
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 30.3% | 26.9–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.3% | 32.2–40.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.3–28.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.0–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.1% | 32.6–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.3–13.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.0–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 74.9–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.7–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 85.6–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.8% | 57.0–66.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.0% | 61.5–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.8% | 65.5–79.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.3–21.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 12.3–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 19.8–29.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 28.2–40.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 16.3–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 11.7–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 26.2–35.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.3–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.4–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 19.5–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 10.3–16.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.1–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.3–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.3–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.7–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 66.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 5.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 67.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 16.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 36.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $82,083 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $150,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $934 ($675–$1,653) n=1,170 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 84.5 yr ± 2.63 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.9 yr (75.5–82.2) n=1,348 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 2.63 years of 84.5, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured