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ZIP code

61285

in Thomson, IllinoisPopulation 2,728

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

43.80/ 100

Ranked #23,616 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)

Ranked #1,211 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 11.5%)

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.

Binge drinking

20.3%

in the top 5.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.

Full methodology ›

Floodplain exposure

42.8%

in the top 5.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.

Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 8.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

57.9%

in the bottom 9.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST8th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

43%

in the top 9.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US91st
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

17.5%

in the top 13.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US87th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

11.2%

in the top 17% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US83rd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

20.9%

in the top 18% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US82nd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

10.5%

in the top 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US80th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

39.4%

in the top 21% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US79th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

The read

Thomson, Illinois (ZIP 61285), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 26% nationally (23,616th) and the bottom 11.5% of Illinois (1,211th).

continue reading

Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled binge drinking sits in the top 5.2% nationally. On the other hand, floodplain exposure registers in the top 5.6% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 8.0% nationally, and modeled colon screening resides in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Modeled transportation noise lies in the top 10.2% nationally, and obesity settles in the top 9.0% nationally. Modeled mammography stands in the bottom 11.3% nationally, and housing insecurity is in the top 13.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 13.6% nationally, and radon sits in the top 16% nationally.

Set against the neighboring ZIPs, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 52070, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 60%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 68%

8%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 47%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 12%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 22%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 9%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 7%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 14%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 38%

5%

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 67%

8%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 59%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 47%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 8%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 31%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 3%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 2%

11%

Disability

healthier than 30%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 5%

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.

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 adults25.0%22.0–28.2
High blood pressure among adults37.9%33.4–42.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults7.1%6.5–7.9
Current asthma among adults9.7%8.5–11.0
Coronary heart disease among adults6.8%6.1–7.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.1%7.1–9.2
Depression among adults19.1%16.0–22.6
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.5%10.8–14.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.7%30.4–39.3
Obesity among adults43.0%34.0–52.4
Stroke among adults3.7%3.3–4.1
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years15.1%12.3–18.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years13.6%10.6–16.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure71.2%67.7–74.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults74.8%70.7–79.0
Cholesterol screening among adults83.1%80.6–85.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years57.9%52.4–63.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults56.5%52.5–60.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years69.3%60.3–77.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults20.3%16.7–24.4
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.9%15.8–22.1
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.4%22.6–32.6
Short sleep duration among adults39.4%32.1–47.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults23.3%20.0–26.9
Frequent mental distress among adults17.6%15.4–19.8
Frequent physical distress among adults14.3%12.6–16.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults15.5%13.4–17.7
Any disability among adults32.9%28.2–37.7
Hearing disability among adults7.3%6.5–8.2
Independent living disability among adults9.0%7.9–10.2
Mobility disability among adults14.5%12.5–16.7
Self-care disability among adults4.4%3.9–5.0
Vision disability among adults5.7%5.1–6.5
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults31.0%26.6–35.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults20.9%17.0–25.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults19.8%15.9–23.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults17.5%14.4–20.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults10.5%8.8–12.3
Loneliness among adults35.2%29.5–40.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults11.2%9.3–13.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate15.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378
Uninsured 18–649.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375
No HS diploma (25+)24.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377
Bachelor's or higher (25+)10.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377
Unemployment rate (16+)5.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375
Households without a vehicle2.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377
Broadband subscription81.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)16.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377
Homeownership rate78.0%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 population7.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378
Single-parent households68.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372
Population 65+15.7%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378
Median age41.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373
Median household income$68,500$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334
Median home value$173,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332
Median gross rent$903$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 birth78.9 yr ± 1.9378.9 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 1.93 years of 78.9, 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