Photo: AlexiusHoratius · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Minnesota, Wabasha is healthier than 27% of graded towns
Wabasha differs from Minnesota on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wabasha. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wabasha
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Wabasha
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.2%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Wabasha runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 37% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Wabasha is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wabasha is healthier than 60%. Against the 9,834 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 82%. Health Grade ↓
Minnesota sets a high bar
Wabasha is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, but only 27% of the 271 Minnesota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Wabasha, and more people treating it
38.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 84% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Wabasha keeps up with checkups
It beats Minnesota on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (80.1% vs 74.8%) and cholesterol checks (89.3% vs 85.3%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Minnesota figure falls outside Wabasha’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Wabasha’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wabasha is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #197 of 271 in Minnesota. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 92% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 33%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Wabasha’s median household income is $64,514; among the 9,834 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$81K), it’s healthier than 82%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Wabasha adults…
Wabasha runs above MN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Wabasha is an older town: 37% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Wabasha as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wabasha adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Care in and near Wabasha
1 hospital in Wabasha, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Wabasha; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Wabasha adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 4 Wabasha adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.7% of Wabasha adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Wabasha and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabasha | B | 36.5% | 13.2% | 13% | CDC place |
| Pepin Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Greenfield Township | B | 37.8% | 12.4% | 14.2% | ZIP codes |
Pepin Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wabasha adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wabasha
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wabasha is better than Minnesota on 7 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Wabasha’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wabasha | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.2%15–22.5 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.4–16 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.6–15.5 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.5%29.1–44.4 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.1–15.5 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%33.6–42.8 | 31% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.6%34.3–43.2 | 33.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.7%28.8–36.6 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.2%11.8–14.6 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%7.9–10.8 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.1–9.3 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%3.9–5.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.2%8.1–12.5 | 8.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%10.4–16 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26%20.8–31.7 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.4–17.9 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.5%23–34.5 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.7%5.2–8.4 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.1%76.8–83.1 | 74.8% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.6%66.3–72.8 | 67.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%87.6–90.7 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84%81.3–86.3 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.3%69.8–78.3 | 68.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.8%69.5–83.2 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18–25 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.5%22.7–32.1 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.2%15.9–22.6 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.2%7.1–11.6 | 11.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.9%5.6–8.4 | 9.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.7–5.4 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%4.9–6.9 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.7%5.1–8.5 | 7.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.2%27.2–37.9 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.3%13.3–19.9 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.2–14.2 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.3–12.4 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4–5.8 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%6.6–9.9 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.2–4.7 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Minnesota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Wabasha
Is Wabasha a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wabasha is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #197 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wabasha?
CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 44.4%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wabasha?
St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Wabasha, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Wabasha’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Wabasha have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8.4%), against 7.5% across Minnesota.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Wabasha more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wabasha.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.