ZIP code
61532
in Forest City, IllinoisPopulation 347
46.75/ 100
Ranked #20,452 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #1,027 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
Poverty rate
35.7%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
12.7%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
98.7%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.4%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
9.5%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
45 mi
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
7.4 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
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
Forest City, Illinois (ZIP 61532), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 36% nationally (20,452nd) and the bottom 25% of Illinois (1,027th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: home broadband subscription settles in the top 6.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle sits at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 15% nationally. Pulling the other way, poverty rests in the top 4.2% nationally, unemployment resides in the top 5.5% nationally, and slow internet speeds is in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled transportation noise lands in the top 9.4% nationally, modeled mammography stands in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and distance to a community health center registers in the top 14.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 15% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 61546, 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.
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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.
Nearby
61546
Illinoisshares a border
Score 49.37
Closest healthier
61567
Illinoisshares a border
Score 50.70
Similar health profile
61415
Illinois96% similar profile
Score 46.70
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 | 32.9% | 28.9–36.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.0% | 35.4–44.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.0–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.4% | 35.7–45.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 28.9–46.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.7% | 13.5–20.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 5.8–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 76.6–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 75.9–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.0–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 59.1–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.1% | 55.9–64.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.6% | 60.3–78.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.8% | 13.7–20.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 13.6–19.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 20.9–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.0% | 28.9–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.0% | 17.9–24.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.5% | 28.8–38.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.3–19.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 20.3–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 10.8–15.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 10.7–15.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 26.9–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 35.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.7% | 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 | 98.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.6% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 53.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 17.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $71,544 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $116,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $930 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 1.29 | 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 1.29 years of 76.9, 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