ZIP code
62903
in Carbondale, IllinoisPopulation 2,666
48.74/ 100
Ranked #18,011 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #866 of 1,368 Illinois ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Slow internet speeds
8.3%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
41.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
6.2 ppb
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US93rdDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Park land
12.7%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
24.5%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
37.6%
in the top 13.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
9.2 mi
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$46,818
in the bottom 10.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
55.8%
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
87.1 days/year
in the top 29% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS71stDefinition & 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
ZIP 62903, one of several in Carbondale, Illinois, in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 44% nationally (18,011th) and the bottom 37% of Illinois (866th).
A demanding profile, and several measures drive it: slow internet speeds stands in the top 1.6% nationally, homeownership resides in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the top 7.3% nationally. Poverty stands in the top 11.4% nationally, housing-cost burden resides in the top 13.2% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise sits in the top 13.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle stands in the top 15% nationally. On the stronger side, park land resides in the top 10.0% nationally, and fatal road crashes sits in the bottom 13.8% nationally. Crowded housing stands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs.
Set within its surrounding area, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 62920, just across the boundary. Beyond that, the ZIP also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
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
62901
Illinoisshares a border
Score 48.41
Closest healthier
62920
Illinoisshares a border
Score 49.95
Similar health profile
67208
Kansas94% similar profile
Score 48.30
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 | 25.6% | 22.5–28.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 30.2–38.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 19.5–27.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 30.4–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 32.3–49.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.0% | 11.5–16.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 6.9–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.5% | 71.7–77.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 74.6–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.4–85.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.1% | 56.8–67.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.0% | 56.1–63.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.3% | 62.6–79.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.5% | 14.3–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 11.8–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 19.6–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 29.9–44.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.2–22.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.4% | 16.2–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 26.3–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 19.8–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.0–20.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.3% | 15.7–21.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.3% | 29.0–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IL median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.4% (3.4–21.4%) n=1,378 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.6% (1.7–15.2%) n=1,375 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.5% (2.1–16.1%) n=1,377 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 47.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.6% (9.3–49.2%) n=1,377 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.7–10.0%) n=1,375 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–11.8%) n=1,377 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.4% (77.4–96.0%) n=1,377 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.2% (10.7–34.7%) n=1,377 |
| Homeownership rate | 41.3% | 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 | 4.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.4% (0.0–17.6%) n=1,378 |
| Single-parent households | 53.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.8% (39.6–70.3%) n=1,372 |
| Population 65+ | 9.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–28.7%) n=1,378 |
| Median age | 24.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.1 yr (34.3–52.1) n=1,373 |
| Median household income | $46,818 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,429 ($50,714–$114,949) n=1,334 |
| Median home value | $170,000 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 1.07 | 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 1.07 years of 78.5, 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