ZIP code
62243
in Freeburg, IllinoisPopulation 6,418
55.44/ 100
Ranked #8,945 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #336 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #61 of 234 St. Louis, MO-IL ZIPs (top 26%)
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.
PFOS in drinking water
49.2%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.6%
in the bottom 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
69.4%
in the top 25% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
30.3%
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS26thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
86.9 days/year
in the top 29% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS71stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Freeburg, Illinois (ZIP 62243) ranks in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,945th) and the top 25% of Illinois (336th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Taken together, the profile's clearest strengths surface right away: distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Lithium in drinking water lands in the bottom 14.3% nationally, and modeled transportation registers in the bottom 15% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability sits in the bottom 14.4% nationally, modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 17% nationally, and poverty is in the bottom 18% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 19% nationally. Against that, lead in tap water settles in the top 13.9% nationally, modeled binge drinking lies in the top 14.9% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water resides in the top 18% nationally.
In plainer terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. PFOS in drinking water is a common one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 62285, 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 St. Louis, MO-IL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 38%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 80.5 ± 2.2 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.6 years — 2.8 years above them.
Ranked #931 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
62220
Illinoisshares a border
Score 49.05
Closest healthier
62285
Illinoisshares a border
Score 56.38
Similar health profile
62035
Illinois98% similar profile
Score 55.78
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 | 30.5% | 26.8–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.0% | 32.7–41.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 18.4–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 9.6–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.9% | 34.4–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.4% | 27.5–41.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 8.6–12.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.6% | 4.6–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.9% | 75.7–81.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.5–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.1% | 87.6–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.4% | 64.6–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.3% | 64.7–71.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.9% | 66.1–81.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.2–21.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 10.3–14.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.1% | 17.1–25.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 27.4–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.4% | 13.9–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.4–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 23.7–32.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.2–15.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.4–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.8–11.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.4–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.8–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 25.5–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.6–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 44.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $103,342 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $279,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,079 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 80.5, 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