ZIP code
62521
in Decatur, IllinoisPopulation 32,665
46.81/ 100
Ranked #20,388 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #1,024 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #14 of 17 Decatur, IL ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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
58.4%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
243 units
in the top 10.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
55.2%
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Obesity
42.4%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.27%
in the top 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS68thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 62521, one of several in Decatur, Illinois comes out in the bottom 36% nationally (20,388th) and the bottom 25% of Illinois (1,024th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 10.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled arsenic sits in the top 0.4% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 9.3% nationally, and pfas stands in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled obesity lands in the top 11.3% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 61925, 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 Decatur, IL metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.1 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $66,337 predicts 78.5 years — 1.3 years below.
Ranked #1,668 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
61925
Illinoisshares a border
Score 48.45
Closest healthier
62501
Illinoisshares a border
Score 53.45
Similar health profile
15027
Pennsylvania90% similar profile
Score 45.59
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% | 27.0–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.0% | 35.6–44.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.2–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.4% | 34.8–44.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.4% | 34.3–50.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.0% | 11.3–17.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.1–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 75.6–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.0–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.9–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.7% | 59.2–69.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.6% | 56.6–64.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.3% | 62.3–79.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.1–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.4–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 21.9–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 31.1–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 19.0–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.0–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 28.6–37.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.2–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.1% | 22.4–30.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.4% | 15.2–19.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 28.9–39.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 80.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 56.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 23.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 42.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $66,337 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $125,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332 |
| Median gross rent | $926 | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 years of 77.1, 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