Community health can be measured by indicators such as the willingness of community members to contribute to charitable or volunteer causes, residents’ involvement in the political process, and the safety of the community. What these indicators share is a focus on relationships—of one community member to another or to the community itself. The indicators in this Tapestry present a mixed picture of community health.

On the positive side, DuPage is a safe community and enjoys very low crime rates. Also, DuPage residents give generously of their time to the more than 800 charitable organizations located in the county. On the other hand, financial giving to charitable causes is quite low in DuPage County: out of 102 Illinois counties, DuPage ranks 12th in terms of discretionary income, but 77th in terms of the percentage of discretionary income given to charity.

When it comes to political involvement, less than 70 percent of DuPage residents who are old enough to vote are registered to vote, which is lower than state and national figures. However, registered voters in the county do turn out to vote in somewhat greater number than voters statewide.

Creating and maintaining optimal community health is the responsibility of the community as a whole. By working together, we can ensure that we live in a safe and healthy community.