Photo: Ammodramus · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Madison is healthier than 65%
Madison differs from Nebraska on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Madison. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Madison
Making ends meet is harder in Madison
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.7%), vs 12.3% across Nebraska. Housing insecurity (14.9% vs 9.5%) and no reliable transportation (9.5% vs 6.7%) are higher too. 12.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 8.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 5 working-age adults in Madison has no health insurance
19.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 9.9% across Nebraska. Checkups ↓
More Madison adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.3%), vs 24.3% across Nebraska. Habits ↓
Madison is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Madison is healthier than 44%. Against the 9,560 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 65%. Health Grade ↓
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 Nebraska figure falls outside Madison’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Madison’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Madison is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 91% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Madison’s median household income is $62,738; among the 9,560 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 65%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Madison compares well: arthritis, 21.4% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.8% (U.S. 7.9%); ever told they have depression, 14.3% (U.S. 20.6%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.7% of Madison adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Keeping up with care
Share of Madison adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Madison adults…
Madison runs below NE on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Madison
1 community health center in Madison, 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 Madison; ≈ 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).
How Madison adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Madison does better than Nebraska.
1 in 3 Madison 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.
Madison and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | C+ | 41.8% | 13% | 14.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Madison adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Madison
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Madison is better than Nebraska on 3 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Nebraska figure falls inside Madison’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Madison | NE | U.S. | vs NE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%17.9–24.3 | 16.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.3–14.8 | 11.6% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12–15.4 | 14.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%36.6–47.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.3–14.9 | 10.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 33.4%30.3–36.9 | 32.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.5%31.2–37.9 | 33% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.4%19.3–23.9 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.5–7.1 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.1–7.2 | 6.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.8%12–17.8 | 12.4% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%11.8–16.6 | 13.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 33.3%28.7–38.2 | 24.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.4–20.9 | 19.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%29.5–40.7 | 31.3% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 19.4%15.7–23.4 | 9.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%69.6–76.4 | 75.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.5%52.6–60.4 | 64.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.4%79.1–83.8 | 83.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.4–79.6 | 77.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 54%49–59.1 | 62.3% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%60.9–76.6 | 75% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 14.3%12.2–16.6 | 18.3% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%27–36.4 | 29.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20–27.2 | 20.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.7%17.2–24.8 | 12.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%12.5–17.6 | 9.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.6–10.5 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%8.1–11.1 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.7%10.3–15.5 | 8.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.9%26–34.1 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%11.7–16.2 | 12% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%11.9–15.8 | 12.1% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.8%6.7–9 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.5–4.7 | 3.2% | 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 Nebraska figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Madison
Is Madison a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Madison is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Madison?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.6% and 47.3%, against 37.7% across Nebraska and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Madison?
Faith Health in Norfolk, 14.1 miles in a straight line from Madison’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Madison have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 19.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.7–23.4%), against 9.9% across Nebraska.
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 Madison more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Madison.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nebraska 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.