Health Profile of Alton, Illinois
Alton Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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C
Alton Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Alton | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 73.4 | 77.9 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 7.0% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 19.4% | 15.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Alton is 73.4 years, about 4.5 years shorter than the Illinois average of 77.9 years. The uninsured rate is 7.0%, higher than the Illinois average of 6.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 19.4% of residents, higher than the Illinois average of 15.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
8,271 residents in Alton are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 508 189 men · 319 women
- 75–84 1,130 428 men · 702 women
- 65–74 2,185 907 men · 1,278 women
- 50–64 4,448 2,148 men · 2,301 women
Younger residents
5,493 residents in Alton are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 1,569 842 boys · 727 girls
- 7–12 1,739 882 boys · 857 girls
- 3–7 1,304 649 boys · 654 girls
- 0–3 881 460 boys · 421 girls
About 1,939 residents in Alton (8.1% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 73.4 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Alton | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 12.4% | 10.7% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.3% | 7.1% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 44.5% | 36.1% | 34.3% |
The rate of obesity in Alton is about 23% higher than in Illinois. The rate of diabetes in Alton is about 16% higher than in Illinois.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Alton | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 23.2% | 19.2% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 14.2% | 14.9% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 29.9% | 26.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Alton is about 21% higher than in Illinois.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 42,966 cigarettes a day, 1.3 million a month, or 15.7 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 472,628 minutes a day and 172.5 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Alton is 73.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 4.47 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Alton | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 7.82 | 7.63 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 7.8 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Alton is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Alton, Illinois has an overall health index grade of C, making it about on par with Illinois, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Alton, Illinois.
What is the health grade for Alton, Illinois?
Alton, Illinois has a Map AI Health Index grade of C, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average.
How long do people live in Alton, Illinois?
People in Alton, Illinois can expect to live 73.4 years on average, 4.5 years shorter than the Illinois average of 77.9.
How many people lack health insurance in Alton, Illinois?
7.0% of residents in Alton, Illinois have no health insurance, about 1 in 14 people, about the same as the Illinois rate of 6.9%.
How common is obesity in Alton, Illinois?
44.5% of adults in Alton, Illinois are classified as obese, about 1 in 2, 8.4 points above the Illinois rate of 36.1%.
What health issue is more common in Alton, Illinois than elsewhere?
Compared with Illinois as a whole, obesity stands out most: the adult rate here is 44.5%, about 23% higher than the Illinois rate of 36.1%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Alton, Illinois go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 42,966 cigarettes a day, 1.3 million a month, or 15.7 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 472,628 minutes a day and 172.5 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Alton is 73.4 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.01 lifetimes a day, or 4.47 lifetimes a year.
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