ZIP code
61435
in Gerlaw, IllinoisPopulation 271
50.59/ 100
Ranked #15,444 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #714 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
5.1%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
43.7%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.23%
in the bottom 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS11thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 13.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›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
On the composite measure, Gerlaw, Illinois (ZIP 61435) stands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,444th) and the bottom 48% of Illinois (714th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled pfas stands in the bottom 1.2% nationally. Unemployment sits at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 11.0% nationally, and expected annual loss sits in the bottom 13.7% nationally. Crowded housing resides at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. By contrast, homeownership stands in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Fiber broadband sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography resides in the bottom 14.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
For clarity, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. ZIP 61412, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 74%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
“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
61401
Illinoisshares a border
Score 42.37
Closest healthier
61412
Illinoisshares a border
Score 51.07
Similar health profile
47943
Indiana96% similar profile
Score 51.53
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 | 29.5% | 25.7–33.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.2% | 32.6–41.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 6.9–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 18.9–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.2–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 33.0–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 28.7–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.5% | 9.1–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 5.7–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.0–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.0–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 84.4–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.5% | 59.1–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.5% | 58.3–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.0% | 60.6–78.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 14.8–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 12.5–19.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 19.4–29.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.5% | 28.5–42.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 16.5–23.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 11.8–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.9% | 27.1–37.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.4–17.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.1% | 20.8–29.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 10.0–16.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 9.4–15.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.5–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 5.8–8.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 28.0–39.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.6–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 42.8% | 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 | 88.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 43.7% | 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 | 37.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 3.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 25.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $708 | $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 | 83.9 yr ± 2.67 | 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 2.67 years of 83.9, 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