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ZIP code

61523

in Chillicothe, IllinoisPopulation 10,203

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

54.45/ 100

Ranked #10,134 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)

Ranked #395 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (top 29%)

Ranked #28 of 67 Peoria, IL ZIPs (top 42%)

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

Broad coverage across 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.

Radon

3.8 pCi/L

in the top 3.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.

Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.

Full methodology ›

Lead in tap water

7.8 ppb

in the top 5.3% 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 ›

Arsenic in groundwater

22.3%

in the top 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US95th
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 ›

PFOS in drinking water

25.8%

in the top 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US80th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.

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 ›

Tree cover

26.9%

in the top 39% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST91st
US61st
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Cross-source signals

Combined exposures in this ZIP

More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.

The read

By its overall health score, Chillicothe, Illinois (ZIP 61523) lands in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,134th) and the top 29% of Illinois (395th), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

The measures split the difference for this area: distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Poverty rests in the bottom 13.7% nationally, and elder services is in the top 17% nationally. Against that, modeled radon stands in the top 3.0% nationally, lead in tap water settles in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the top 5.4% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 11.4% nationally, pfas lands in the top 11.9% nationally, and transportation noise registers in the top 15% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits in the top 17% nationally.

To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 61525, 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

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 73%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 62%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 65%

11%

Disability

healthier than 73%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 59%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

8%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 50%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 43%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 19%

14%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 79%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 76%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 74%

11%

Disability

healthier than 70%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 58%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 47%

8%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 52%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 28%

14%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 33%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 72%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 88%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 66%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 76%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 61%

8%

Disability

healthier than 74%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 72%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 4%

14%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 29%

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 adults28.8%25.2–32.5
High blood pressure among adults36.1%31.6–40.5
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.1%9.1–11.2
Current asthma among adults10.3%8.9–11.7
Coronary heart disease among adults6.8%6.0–7.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.4%6.4–8.5
Depression among adults23.0%19.2–26.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults11.5%9.8–13.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.3%34.7–43.9
Obesity among adults32.7%25.7–40.5
Stroke among adults3.4%3.1–3.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.6%10.3–15.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.3%5.1–7.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.2%74.9–81.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.8%75.0–82.2
Cholesterol screening among adults88.5%86.7–90.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.1%60.9–71.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults64.7%61.1–68.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years73.6%65.5–81.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.8%14.7–21.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.0%10.8–15.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults20.7%16.8–24.9
Short sleep duration among adults34.9%28.5–41.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.0%14.6–19.7
Frequent mental distress among adults16.1%13.9–18.3
Frequent physical distress among adults13.0%11.2–14.8
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.2%10.6–14.1
Any disability among adults28.5%24.2–32.8
Hearing disability among adults7.4%6.5–8.4
Independent living disability among adults7.4%6.5–8.4
Mobility disability among adults13.2%11.2–15.3
Self-care disability among adults3.3%3.0–3.7
Vision disability among adults4.1%3.7–4.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.8%18.4–25.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.6%8.7–12.6
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.1%8.2–12.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.9%7.4–10.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.2–6.9
Loneliness among adults32.2%27.2–37.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.9%5.0–6.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate3.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378
Uninsured 18–648.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375
No HS diploma (25+)4.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377
Bachelor's or higher (25+)27.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377
Unemployment rate (16+)1.4%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375
Households without a vehicle3.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377
Broadband subscription90.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)16.7%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377
Homeownership rate86.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377
Foreign-born population2.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378
Single-parent households53.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372
Population 65+22.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378
Median age45.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373
Median household income$79,453$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334
Median home value$161,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332
Median gross rent$917$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 birth79.0 yr ± 0.9278.9 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 0.92 years of 79.0, 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