ZIP code
62520
in Dawson, IllinoisPopulation 1,652
55.63/ 100
Ranked #8,708 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #320 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #12 of 30 Springfield, IL ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
3.1%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
15.8%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, Dawson, Illinois (ZIP 62520) lands in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,708th) and the top 23% of Illinois (320th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: fatal road crashes registers at the national minimum. Households without a vehicle sits at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 12.4% nationally, homeownership is in the top 13.7% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 14.4% nationally. On the other hand, modeled nitrate settles in the top 5.0% nationally, and arsenic lies in the top 9.3% nationally. Fiber broadband resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled radon lands in the top 16% nationally, and binge drinking registers in the top 13.4% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 62563, 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 Springfield, IL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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
62515
Illinoisshares a border
Score 52.72
Closest healthier
62563
Illinoisshares a border
Score 61.49
Similar health profile
62689
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 55.70
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 | 28.7% | 25.3–32.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 31.6–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 32.7–41.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 30.5–46.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.5% | 8.4–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.1% | 4.9–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.4–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.8–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.1–90.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.2–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.2% | 62.4–69.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.6% | 63.0–79.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.1% | 16.5–24.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 27.7–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.3% | 14.0–18.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 23.5–31.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.0–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.1–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.5–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.2–10.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 26.9–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 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 | 88.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 64.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 16.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 48.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $84,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $226,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $850 | $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 | 78.0 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 78.0, 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