ZIP code
61109
in Rockford, IllinoisPopulation 26,768
43.44/ 100
Ranked #23,970 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #1,219 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 10.9%)
Ranked #21 of 25 Rockford, IL ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
69.6%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
7.9 ppb
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
US95thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
0.85%
in the top 13.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
58.9%
in the bottom 11.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Obesity
42.6%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
17%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
22%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
11.0%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 61109, one of several in Rockford, Illinois, overall, ranks in the bottom 25% nationally (23,970th) and the bottom 10.9% of Illinois (1,219th).
Reading across the data, the real pressures come first: distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, modeled pfas registers in the top 4.6% nationally, and lead in tap water resides in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 6.9% nationally, unemployment is in the top 10.3% nationally, and modeled mammography sits in the bottom 10.1% nationally. Slow internet speeds lands in the top 13.0% nationally, and modeled colon screening lies in the bottom 11.2% nationally. Modeled obesity stands in the top 10.5% nationally. More encouragingly, distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. ZIP 61016, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.0 ± 1.9 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.7 years — 2.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,062 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.
Nearby
61016
Illinoisshares a border
Score 56.89
Closest healthier
61020
Illinoisshares a border
Score 54.35
Similar health profile
64123
Missouri95% similar profile
Score 34.57
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 | 27.6% | 24.5–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 32.9–41.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 19.4–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 33.2–41.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.6% | 35.6–50.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.9% | 13.0–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.0% | 11.4–14.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.1% | 73.0–78.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.5% | 73.7–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.5–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.9% | 53.3–64.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.7% | 51.7–59.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.9% | 59.7–77.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 13.9–20.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.5% | 24.2–33.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.7% | 31.1–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.0% | 21.3–26.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.3–17.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 29.9–38.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.2–7.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.3% | 24.6–32.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.0% | 19.6–24.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.2% | 18.9–23.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 15.0–19.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.8% | 31.0–41.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 47.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 15.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 36.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $62,973 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $139,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $959 | $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 | 77.0 yr ± 0.95 | 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 0.95 years of 77.0, 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