ZIP code
61928
in Gays, IllinoisPopulation 776
48.56/ 100
Ranked #18,235 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #884 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
27.5%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
96.9%
in the top 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$118,271
in the top 10.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
39.2 mi
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS81stDefinition & 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 ›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
Judged by its overall standing, Gays, Illinois (ZIP 61928) sits in the bottom 43% nationally (18,235th) and the bottom 35% of Illinois (884th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Home broadband subscription settles in the top 10.6% nationally, household income lands in the top 10.2% nationally, and housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Crowded housing settles at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, modeled arsenic lands in the top 3.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled radon lands in the top 18% nationally. Physicians rests at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 61951, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
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
61938
Illinoisshares a border
Score 45.72
Closest healthier
61951
Illinoisshares a border
Score 48.73
Similar health profile
15520
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 39.25
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 | 31.2% | 28.4–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 35.2–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.2–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 19.9–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 36.5–43.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 32.5–45.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.1–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.6–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.3–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.9–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.6–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.8% | 59.0–68.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.1% | 57.6–64.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.2% | 63.4–77.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.9% | 14.3–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.7% | 20.7–28.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.7% | 29.3–40.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.3–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.1–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.3% | 28.2–36.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.4% | 22.0–28.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.1–16.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.1–14.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.8–12.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 28.5–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 7.0% | 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 | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.7% | 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 | 51.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 13.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 32.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $118,271 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $152,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $585 | $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 | 79.3 yr ± 0.71 | 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 0.71 years of 79.3, 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