Health Profile of Des Plaines, Illinois
Updated
Des Plaines 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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B
Des Plaines Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Des Plaines | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 79.6 | 77.9 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 10.6% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 12.8% | 15.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Des Plaines is 79.6 years, about 1.7 years longer than the Illinois average of 77.9 years. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, higher than the Illinois average of 6.9%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 12.8% of residents, lower than the Illinois average of 15.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
23,904 residents in Des Plaines are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,804 681 men · 1,123 women
- 75–84 3,410 1,291 men · 2,119 women
- 65–74 6,038 2,814 men · 3,224 women
- 50–64 12,652 6,006 men · 6,647 women
Younger residents
12,157 residents in Des Plaines are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 3,853 1,980 boys · 1,873 girls
- 7–12 3,555 1,844 boys · 1,711 girls
- 3–7 2,724 1,375 boys · 1,349 girls
- 0–3 2,025 1,015 boys · 1,010 girls
About 3,423 residents in Des Plaines (5.5% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 79.6 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Des Plaines | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 9.1% | 10.7% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.8% | 7.1% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.8% | 7.1% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 25.8% | 36.1% | 34.3% |
The rate of obesity in Des Plaines is about 29% lower than in Illinois. The rate of heart disease in Des Plaines is about 18% lower than in Illinois. The rate of diabetes in Des Plaines is about 15% lower than in Illinois.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Des Plaines | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 13.2% | 19.2% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 14.1% | 14.9% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 24.0% | 26.3% | 25.1% |
The rate of smoking in Des Plaines is about 31% lower than in Illinois.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 64,029 cigarettes a day, 1.9 million a month, or 23.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 704,324 minutes a day and 257.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Des Plaines is 79.6 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 6.15 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 | Des Plaines | Illinois Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 8.01 | 7.63 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 8.0 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Des Plaines is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Des Plaines, IL Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Des Plaines, IL compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Plaines, IL | 61,932 | 79.6 yrs #3/3 | 10.6% #3/3 | 25.8% #3/3 |
| Mount Prospect, IL | 54,782 | 81.7 yrs | 8.6% | 24.5% |
| Park Ridge, IL | 37,584 | 81.8 yrs | 4.0% | 23.5% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Des Plaines, Illinois has an overall health index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Illinois, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Is Des Plaines, Illinois a healthy place to live?
Des Plaines, Illinois has a Map AI Health Index grade of B, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a B grade means residents are somewhat healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the life expectancy in Des Plaines, Illinois?
People in Des Plaines, Illinois can expect to live 79.6 years on average, 1.7 years longer than the Illinois average of 77.9.
How many people lack health insurance in Des Plaines, Illinois?
10.6% of residents in Des Plaines, Illinois have no health insurance, about 1 in 9 people, 3.8 points above the Illinois rate of 6.9%.
What is the obesity rate in Des Plaines, Illinois?
25.8% of adults in Des Plaines, Illinois are classified as obese, about 1 in 4, 10.3 points below the Illinois rate of 36.1%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Des Plaines, Illinois go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 64,029 cigarettes a day, 1.9 million a month, or 23.4 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 704,324 minutes a day and 257.1 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Des Plaines is 79.6 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 6.15 lifetimes a year.
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