These are the 25 healthiest and unhealthiest Illinois counties

Sep 24, 2014

With the release of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program’s 2014 national health rankings, it’s time to see which Illinois counties are among the healthiest and which need to make some improvements.

To determine rankings, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps measured factors including length of life, quality of life, personal health behaviors, access to clinical care, socioeconomic indicators and physical environment. Here’s a breakdown of how each category is weighed:

Since there are 102 counties in Illinois, we’ve only provided rankings for the 25 healthiest counties and the 25 least healthy. Along with the rankings are some bullet point statistics, if applicable:

Percent of adults reporting poor or fair health (age-adjusted).
Percent of adult population reporting a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30.
Excessive drinking (binge plus heavy drinking).
Physical inactivity (number of adults aged 20 or over that report having no leisure-time to partake in physical activity).
Uninsured (percent of population under the age of 65 without health insurance).
Percent of 9th grader who graduate high school in four years.
Percent of children living in a single-parent household.
Violent crime rate per a population of 100,000.
Air pollution (average daily measure of fine particulate matter in micrograms per cubic meter – PM2.5).

You can read more on the ranking method here. To view all of Illinois’ counties as well as additional metrics, check out County Health Rankings & Roadmaps’ website.

Top 25 healthiest Illinois counties:

1. Woodford

Adult population with poor or fair health: 8 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: 18 percent
Physical inactivity: 23 percent
Uninsured: 10 percent
High school graduation: 85 percent
Children in single-parent households: 19 percent
Violent crime rate: 44
Air pollution: 12.3

2. Kendall

Adult population with poor or fair health: 11 percent
Adult obesity rate: 28 percent
Excessive drinking: 19 percent
Physical inactivity: 21 percent
Uninsured: 9 percent
High school graduation: 90 percent
Children in single-parent households: 19 percent
Violent crime rate: 138
Air pollution: 12.8

3. DuPage

Adult population with poor or fair health: 12 percent
Adult obesity rate: 25 percent
Excessive drinking: 20 percent
Physical inactivity: 19 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 92 percent
Children in single-parent households: 19 percent
Violent crime rate: 100
Air pollution: 13.0

4. Schuyler

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 29 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 27 percent
Violent crime rate: 99
Air pollution: 11.2

5. Jo Daviess

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 27 percent
Excessive drinking: 21 percent
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 14 percent
High school graduation: 86 percent
Children in single-parent households: 28 percent
Violent crime rate: 176
Air pollution: 11.9

6. Pike

Adult population with poor or fair health: 7 percent
Adult obesity rate: 29 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 26 percent
Uninsured: 14 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 33 percent
Violent crime rate: 41
Air pollution: 11.2

7. Douglas

Adult population with poor or fair health: 7 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 18 percent
High school graduation: 88 percent
Children in single-parent households: 23 percent
Violent crime rate: 148
Air pollution: 13.4

8. Brown

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 88 percent
Children in single-parent households: 20 percent
Violent crime rate: 209
Air pollution: 11.2

9. Kane

Adult population with poor or fair health: 12 percent
Adult obesity rate: 27 percent
Excessive drinking: 20 percent
Physical inactivity: 23 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: 87 percent
Children in single-parent households: 26 percent
Violent crime rate: 215
Air pollution: 12.8

10. DeKalb

Adult population with poor or fair health: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: 24 percent
Physical inactivity: 22 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 85 percent
Children in single-parent households: 24 percent
Violent crime rate: 231
Air pollution: 12.6

11. McDonough

Adult population with poor or fair health: 11 percent
Adult obesity rate: 29 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 25 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 80 percent
Children in single-parent households: 32 percent
Violent crime rate: 162
Air pollution: 11.0

12. Clinton

Adult population with poor or fair health: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 28 percent
Excessive drinking: 23 percent
Physical inactivity: 31 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 22 percent
Violent crime rate: 153
Air pollution: 12.6

13. Lake

Adult population with poor or fair health: 14 percent
Adult obesity rate: 25 percent
Excessive drinking: 19 percent
Physical inactivity: 19 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 86 percent
Children in single-parent households: 22 percent
Violent crime rate: 143
Air pollution: 12.8

14. McHenry

Adult population with poor or fair health: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 27 percent
Excessive drinking: 21 percent
Physical inactivity: 23 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 91 percent
Children in single-parent households: 18 percent
Violent crime rate: 119
Air pollution: 12.6

15. Mercer

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 32 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 84 percent
Children in single-parent households: 32 percent
Violent crime rate: 226
Air pollution: 11.2

16. Henry

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 29 percent
Excessive drinking: 18 percent
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 84 percent
Children in single-parent households: 24 percent
Violent crime rate: 165
Air pollution: 11.7

17. Whiteside

Adult population with poor or fair health: 14 percent
Adult obesity rate: 28 percent
Excessive drinking: 19 percent
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 82 percent
Children in single-parent households: 33 percent
Violent crime rate: 172
Air pollution: 11.9

18. Boone

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 31 percent
Excessive drinking: 9 percent
Physical inactivity: 25 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: 75 percent
Children in single-parent households: 25 percent
Violent crime rate: 147
Air pollution: 12.5

19. Shelby

Adult population with poor or fair health: 9 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 31 percent
Uninsured: 14 percent
High school graduation: 92 percent
Children in single-parent households: 20 percent
Violent crime rate: 119
Air pollution: 13.1

20. Calhoun

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 34 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 88 percent
Children in single-parent households: 13 percent
Violent crime rate: 358
Air pollution: 11.5

21. Piatt

Adult population with poor or fair health: 12 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 10 percent
High school graduation: 93 percent
Children in single-parent households: 17 percent
Violent crime rate: 219
Air pollution: 13.0

22. Effingham

Adult population with poor or fair health: 11 percent
Adult obesity rate: 27 percent
Excessive drinking: 31 percent
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 88 percent
Children in single-parent households: 24 percent
Violent crime rate: 134
Air pollution: 13.4

23. Champaign

Adult population with poor or fair health: 10 percent
Adult obesity rate: 27 percent
Excessive drinking: 18 percent
Physical inactivity: 22 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 86 percent
Children in single-parent households: 37 percent
Violent crime rate: 616
Air pollution: 13.3

24. Ogle

Adult population with poor or fair health: 17 percent
Adult obesity rate: 28 percent
Excessive drinking: 21 percent
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 89 percent
Children in single-parent households: 24 percent
Violent crime rate: 66
Air pollution: 12.3

25. Will

Adult population with poor or fair health: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: 24 percent
Physical inactivity: 24 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 86 percent
Children in single-parent households: 21 percent
Violent crime rate: 169
Air pollution: 13.1

Top 25 unhealthiest Illinois counties:

102. Alexander

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 14 percent
High school graduation: N/A
Children in single-parent households: 64 percent
Violent crime rate: 1,351
Air pollution: 13.0

101. Gallatin

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: N/A
Children in single-parent households: 33 percent
Violent crime rate: 107
Air pollution: 13.9

100. Franklin

Adult population with poor or fair health: 22 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: 12 percent
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 14 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 40 percent
Violent crime rate: 333
Air pollution: 13.2

99. Saline

Adult population with poor or fair health: 16 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 32 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 80 percent
Children in single-parent households: 36 percent
Violent crime rate: 338
Air pollution: 13.6

98. Pulaski

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: N/A
Children in single-parent households: 41 percent
Violent crime rate: 1,124
Air pollution: 13.2

97. Massac

Adult population with poor or fair health: 33 percent
Adult obesity rate: 34 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 92 percent
Children in single-parent households: 28 percent
Violent crime rate: 343
Air pollution: 13.6

96. Edwards

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 27 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 26 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 93 percent
Children in single-parent households: 24 percent
Violent crime rate: 137
Air pollution: 14.0

95. Vermilion

Adult population with poor or fair health: 18 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: 17 percent
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 81 percent
Children in single-parent households: 46 percent
Violent crime rate: 568
Air pollution: 13.6

94. Hardin

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 31 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: N/A
Children in single-parent households: 36 percent
Violent crime rate: 278
Air pollution: 14.0

93. Mason

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 32 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 79 percent
Children in single-parent households: 34 percent
Violent crime rate: 480
Air pollution: 11.8

92. Marion

Adult population with poor or fair health: 19 percent
Adult obesity rate: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: 10 percent
Physical inactivity: 32 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 77 percent
Children in single-parent households: 38 percent
Violent crime rate: 293
Air pollution: 13.1

91. Lawrence

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity rate: 31 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 29 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 80 percent
Children in single-parent households: 34 percent
Violent crime rate: 186
Air pollution: 14.1

90. Jefferson

Adult population with poor or fair health: 20 percent
Adult obesity rate: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 80 percent
Children in single-parent households: 35 percent
Violent crime rate: 557
Air pollution: 13.1

89. St. Clair

Adult population with poor or fair health: 16 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: 19 percent
Physical inactivity: 29 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 79 percent
Children in single-parent households: 44 percent
Violent crime rate: 945
Air pollution: 12.1

88. Livingston

Adult population with poor or fair health: 14 percent
Adult obesity rate: 31 percent
Excessive drinking: 25 percent
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 81 percent
Children in single-parent households: 28 percent
Violent crime rate: 210
Air pollution: 12.8

87. Hamilton

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity: 29 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 29 percent
Uninsured: 14 percent
High school graduation: 98 percent
Children in single-parent households: 31 percent
Violent crime rate: 54
Air pollution: 13.6

86. Williamson

Adult population with poor or fair health: 23 percent
Adult obesity: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: 14 percent
Physical inactivity: 29 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 87 percent
Children in single-parent households: 36 percent
Violent crime rate: 580
Air pollution: 13.2

85. Crawford

Adult population with poor or fair health: 22 percent
Adult obesity: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 32 percent
Uninsured: 13 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 25 percent
Violent crime rate: 222
Air pollution: 14.0

84. Macon

Adult population with poor or fair health: 19 percent
Adult obesity: 32 percent
Excessive drinking: 16 percent
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 79 percent
Children in single-parent households: 42 percent
Violent crime rate: 537
Air pollution: 12.8

83. Jackson

Adult population with poor or fair health: 21 percent
Adult obesity: 28 percent
Excessive drinking: 15 percent
Physical inactivity: 23 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: 90 percent
Children in single-parent households: 39 percent
Violent crime rate: 550
Air pollution: 12.7

82. Logan

Adult population with poor or fair health: 17 percent
Adult obesity: 33 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 75 percent
Children in single-parent households: 38 percent
Violent crime rate: 347
Air pollution: 12.3

81. Sangamon

Adult population with poor or fair health: 19 percent
Adult obesity: 31 percent
Excessive drinking: 20 percent
Physical inactivity: 27 percent
Uninsured: 11 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 37 percent
Violent crime rate: 943
Air pollution: 12.2

80. Christian

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity: 32 percent
Excessive drinking: 16 percent
Physical inactivity: 28 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 83 percent
Children in single-parent households: 35 percent
Violent crime rate: N/A
Air pollution: 12.6

79. Winnebago

Adult population with poor or fair health: 15 percent
Adult obesity: 29 percent
Excessive drinking: 18 percent
Physical inactivity: 26 percent
Uninsured: 15 percent
High school graduation: 81 percent
Children in single-parent households: 41 percent
Violent crime rate: 892
Air pollution: 12.3

78. Marshall

Adult population with poor or fair health: N/A
Adult obesity: 30 percent
Excessive drinking: N/A
Physical inactivity: 30 percent
Uninsured: 12 percent
High school graduation: 94 percent
Children in single-parent households: 22 percent
Violent crime rate: 125
Air pollution: 12.2

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Kevin Hoffman is a Reboot Illinois staff writer who graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism, political science and international studies. He believes keeping citizens informed and politicians in check is the best way to improve Illinois and bring about common sense reform. Follow us on Facebook.