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ZIP code

62522

in Decatur, IllinoisPopulation 15,185

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

41.15/ 100

Ranked #25,915 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 19%)

Ranked #1,288 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)

Ranked #16 of 17 Decatur, IL ZIPs (bottom 5.9%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

58.9%

in the top 0.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Obesity

44.8%

in the top 4.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Unemployment rate

11.3%

in the top 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

1.2%

in the top 9.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

13.3%

in the top 10.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Households without a vehicle

12.3%

in the top 10.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with no vehicle available.

Full methodology ›

PFAS in drinking water

54.4%

in the top 10.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US89th
Definition & 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 ›

Poverty rate

24.9%

in the top 11.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US89th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

12.6%

in the top 11.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US89th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

17.9%

in the top 12.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US88th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

By its overall health score, ZIP 62522, one of several in Decatur, Illinois lands in the bottom 19% nationally (25,915th) and the bottom 5.9% of Illinois (1,288th).

continue reading

The measures that press hardest set the tone here: modeled arsenic stands in the top 0.3% nationally, and obesity settles in the top 4.7% nationally. Unemployment lies in the top 7.3% nationally, and slow internet speeds resides in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the top 10.3% nationally, households without a vehicle registers in the top 10.4% nationally, and modeled pfas sits in the top 10.7% nationally. Poverty rests in the top 11.1% nationally, modeled transportation noise is in the top 11.2% nationally, and modeled transportation stands in the top 11.4% nationally.

Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 62521, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 88%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 40%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 5%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 7%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 23%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 20%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 25%

8%

Disability

healthier than 29%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 40%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 89%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 28%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 3%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 13%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 14%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 7%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 3%

8%

Disability

healthier than 9%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 21%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 88%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 19%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 6%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 13%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 6%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 6%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 6%

8%

Disability

healthier than 13%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 6%

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

2 of our published findings list 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 74.9 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $50,669 predicts 77.4 years — 2.5 years below.

    Ranked #3,413 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 74.9 ± 1.5 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.6 years — 3.6 years below them.

    Ranked #2,828 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults27.1%24.0–30.4
High blood pressure among adults38.1%33.9–42.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults7.3%6.6–8.1
Current asthma among adults11.6%10.2–13.1
Coronary heart disease among adults6.9%6.3–7.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.9%7.9–9.9
Depression among adults23.1%19.5–26.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.8%12.1–15.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.9%31.8–40.3
Obesity among adults44.8%36.6–53.2
Stroke among adults4.2%3.9–4.5
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years17.8%14.6–21.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.3%8.0–10.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.6%72.8–78.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.9%74.1–81.4
Cholesterol screening among adults83.3%81.2–85.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.0%56.4–67.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults56.7%52.6–60.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years71.5%63.0–79.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.6%13.6–19.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults17.3%14.9–19.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.9%23.5–32.7
Short sleep duration among adults40.2%33.2–47.3
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults23.7%21.0–26.6
Frequent mental distress among adults19.9%17.7–22.3
Frequent physical distress among adults15.0%13.3–16.8
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults16.9%15.0–18.9
Any disability among adults34.4%30.0–39.0
Hearing disability among adults6.8%6.1–7.6
Independent living disability among adults11.2%10.1–12.4
Mobility disability among adults16.5%14.6–18.5
Self-care disability among adults5.2%4.8–5.7
Vision disability among adults6.9%6.3–7.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults27.5%23.7–31.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults23.7%21.0–26.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults25.8%23.2–28.6
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults17.9%15.8–20.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults12.6%11.2–14.1
Loneliness among adults36.4%31.3–42.2
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults13.3%11.8–15.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate24.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378
Uninsured 18–648.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375
No HS diploma (25+)6.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377
Bachelor's or higher (25+)24.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50521.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377
Unemployment rate (16+)11.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375
Households without a vehicle12.3%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377
Broadband subscription91.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)25.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377
Homeownership rate61.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32280.9% (61.0–94.1%) n=1,377
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.9% (0.0–4.1%) n=1,377
Foreign-born population1.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378
Single-parent households49.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372
Population 65+16.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55319.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378
Median age33.8 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373
Median household income$50,669$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334
Median home value$113,600$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$154,250 ($86,310–$346,100) n=1,332
Median gross rent$794$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$934 ($675–$1,653) n=1,170
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IL median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth74.9 yr ± 0.7778.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.9 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 0.77 years of 74.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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