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ZIP code

61103

in Rockford, IllinoisPopulation 22,869

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

39.51/ 100

Ranked #27,081 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 16%)

Ranked #1,316 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 3.9%)

Ranked #22 of 25 Rockford, IL ZIPs (bottom 12.0%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Lithium in drinking water

9.3 µg/L

in the bottom 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST2nd
US2nd
Definition & source ›

The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Subsidized affordable housing

534 units

in the top 4.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

Lead in tap water

8.3 ppb

in the top 4.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

US95th
Definition & source ›

The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

46%

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Households without a vehicle

15%

in the top 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of households with no vehicle available.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

14.1%

in the top 8.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 8.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST80th
US91st
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

20%

in the top 9.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

13.3%

in the top 9.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

26.2%

in the top 9.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

ZIP 61103, one of several in Rockford, Illinois ranks in the bottom 16% nationally (27,081st) and the bottom 3.9% of Illinois (1,316th).

continue reading

Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: lithium in drinking water is in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 4.1% nationally. Working the other way, lead in tap water lies in the top 4.6% nationally, and modeled obesity is in the top 3.1% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers in the top 7.3% nationally, modeled utility shutoff lies in the top 8.6% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss is in the top 8.8% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity registers in the top 9.0% nationally. Fiber broadband lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation is in the top 9.5% nationally.

Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 61072, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Rockford, IL metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 94%

5%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 57%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 21%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 9%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 15%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 20%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 18%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 28%

8%

Disability

healthier than 16%

7%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 94%

5%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 49%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 6%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 6%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 24%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 11%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 6%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 5%

8%

Disability

healthier than 3%

7%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 96%

5%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 42%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 17%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 13%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 38%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 21%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 13%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 13%

8%

Disability

healthier than 17%

7%

“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 ›

Findings that name this ZIP

2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.

  • Below what income predicts

    The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes

    Estimated life expectancy is 74.5 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $51,161 predicts 77.4 years — 3.0 years below.

    Ranked #4,061 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 74.5 ± 1.2 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.4 years — 4.9 years below them.

    Ranked #3,375 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.

Nearby & similar ZIPs

Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults30.8%27.5–34.2
High blood pressure among adults41.5%37.3–45.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.1%7.3–9.0
Current asthma among adults11.6%10.2–13.0
Coronary heart disease among adults8.1%7.3–8.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults10.1%9.1–11.2
Depression among adults23.2%19.8–27.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults16.1%14.1–18.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.3%34.1–42.8
Obesity among adults46.0%38.8–53.5
Stroke among adults4.8%4.4–5.1
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years17.9%14.7–21.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years12.5%11.0–14.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.0%75.1–80.6
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.4%75.9–82.6
Cholesterol screening among adults84.9%83.1–86.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years60.1%54.5–65.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults54.7%50.8–58.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years69.4%60.3–77.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults15.2%12.5–18.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.9%16.6–21.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults31.2%26.8–35.9
Short sleep duration among adults39.1%32.4–46.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults27.1%24.3–30.2
Frequent mental distress among adults19.4%17.3–21.7
Frequent physical distress among adults16.9%15.1–18.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults17.1%15.3–19.1
Any disability among adults37.5%33.3–42.0
Hearing disability among adults8.0%7.1–9.0
Independent living disability among adults12.1%10.9–13.3
Mobility disability among adults19.5%17.3–21.8
Self-care disability among adults6.2%5.6–6.7
Vision disability among adults8.1%7.4–8.8
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults28.6%24.8–32.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults26.2%23.4–28.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults27.8%25.0–30.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults20.0%17.7–22.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults13.3%11.9–14.7
Loneliness among adults36.0%30.9–41.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults14.1%12.5–15.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate20.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378
Uninsured 18–649.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375
No HS diploma (25+)14.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377
Bachelor's or higher (25+)19.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377
Unemployment rate (16+)7.5%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375
Households without a vehicle15.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377
Broadband subscription84.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)33.6%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377
Homeownership rate51.6%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377
Foreign-born population5.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378
Single-parent households45.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372
Population 65+18.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378
Median age40.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373
Median household income$51,161$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334
Median home value$115,500$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332
Median gross rent$934$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$934 ($675–$1,653) n=1,170
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth74.5 yr ± 0.6278.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.9 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 0.62 years of 74.5, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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