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ZIP code

61516

in Benson, IllinoisPopulation 627

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

52.82/ 100

Ranked #12,352 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)

Ranked #511 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (top 37%)

Ranked #32 of 67 Peoria, IL ZIPs (top 48%)

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.

Floodplain exposure

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
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 ›

Arsenic in groundwater

27.7%

in the top 3.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.

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

97.4%

in the top 6.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

22 mi

in the top 7.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Poverty rate

2.4%

in the bottom 7.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

10.2%

in the bottom 9.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Tree cover

0.00%

in the bottom 10.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST9th
US11th
Definition & source ›

The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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

Judged by its overall standing, Benson, Illinois (ZIP 61516) sits in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,352nd) and the top 37% of Illinois (511th).

continue reading

The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: floodplain exposure registers at the national minimum, homeownership is in the top 6.1% nationally, and poverty lies in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and modeled pfas is in the bottom 10.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lies at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Against that, modeled arsenic registers in the top 3.7% nationally, and distance to a community health center is in the top 7.1% nationally. Fiber broadband lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover registers in the bottom 10.9% nationally.

Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 61561, 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 Peoria, 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

Disability

healthier than 66%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 75%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 59%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 42%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 50%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 55%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 55%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 54%

8%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 7%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 68%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 66%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 84%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 57%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 49%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 59%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 43%

8%

Disability

healthier than 59%

7%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 6%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 71%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 90%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 90%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 51%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 54%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 54%

8%

Disability

healthier than 59%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 37%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 12%

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 adults28.5%25.0–32.2
High blood pressure among adults35.6%31.0–40.1
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.5%8.5–10.5
Current asthma among adults10.3%9.0–11.7
Coronary heart disease among adults6.7%5.9–7.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.7%6.6–9.0
Depression among adults22.4%18.7–26.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults11.2%9.5–13.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.5%32.9–42.3
Obesity among adults38.1%29.6–47.1
Stroke among adults3.5%3.1–3.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.7%9.3–14.3
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.0%5.5–8.8
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.9%73.4–79.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.0%74.3–81.5
Cholesterol screening among adults86.8%84.8–88.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.3%61.0–71.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults66.0%62.2–69.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.3%65.9–81.8
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.0%15.6–22.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults14.3%11.9–16.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults22.7%18.3–27.4
Short sleep duration among adults33.1%26.6–40.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.0%15.2–21.1
Frequent mental distress among adults16.8%14.7–19.1
Frequent physical distress among adults13.5%11.7–15.5
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.4%11.5–15.4
Any disability among adults30.0%25.5–34.6
Hearing disability among adults7.4%6.5–8.4
Independent living disability among adults8.0%6.9–9.2
Mobility disability among adults13.7%11.6–16.0
Self-care disability among adults3.5%3.0–4.0
Vision disability among adults4.3%3.7–4.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.9%20.1–27.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.3%9.1–13.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.4%8.5–12.7
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.3%7.6–11.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.4%5.4–7.4
Loneliness among adults33.3%27.8–38.7
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.8%4.9–6.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate2.4%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378
Uninsured 18–644.3%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375
No HS diploma (25+)4.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377
Bachelor's or higher (25+)18.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377
Unemployment rate (16+)4.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375
Households without a vehicle1.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377
Broadband subscription85.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)10.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377
Homeownership rate97.4%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 population0.6%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378
Single-parent households55.9%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372
Population 65+18.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378
Median age40.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373
Median household income$81,833$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334
Median home value$118,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332
Median gross rent$950$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 birth79.1 yr ± 0.9778.9 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 0.97 years of 79.1, 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