Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Onalaska is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Onalaska differs from Texas on 23 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Onalaska. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Onalaska
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Onalaska
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.7%), about twice the Texas rate. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.5%), vs 5.6% across Texas. Stroke is also above the state: 5.1%, vs 3.2% across Texas. In all, Onalaska runs above Texas on ten of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Onalaska
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.7%), vs 12.5% across Texas. Habits ↓
Onalaska is in the bottom 9% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Onalaska is healthier than only 9% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Onalaska, and more people treating it
43% of adults have high blood pressure (Texas 33.1%), but 80.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 74.1% statewide. 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 Texas figure falls outside Onalaska’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Onalaska’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Onalaska is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns, #562 of 641 in Texas. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 33% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Onalaska’s median household income is $51,912; among the 6,426 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Onalaska compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Onalaska adults…
Onalaska runs above TX on 11 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Onalaska adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near Onalaska
No hospital or community health center in Onalaska itself. These are the nearest.
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 Onalaska; ≈ 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 Onalaska adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, Onalaska runs above Texas.
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.
12.4% of Onalaska adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
Onalaska and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onalaska | D | 38.3% | 16.4% | 19.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Onalaska adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Onalaska
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Onalaska is better than Texas on 7 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside Onalaska’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Onalaska | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.9%24.2–31.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%15.9–20.5 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.3–21.8 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%30.4–47.2 | 35.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.4%14.3–18.8 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43%38.6–47.5 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42%37.5–46.9 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.3%29.7–37.2 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.8 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.5–10.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10.1–13.3 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.4%16.3–22.6 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.7%16.9–23 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.8%28.5–39.4 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.7–18.5 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2%33.8–42.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.2%12.8–18 | 19.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%72.7–80 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.4%48–54.7 | 54.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.1–87 | 84.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.1%77.4–82.7 | 74.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.8–67.3 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.4%61.4–74.9 | 74.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.5%22.7–30.7 | 21.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%24.1–30.4 | 28.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.3%13.8–16.9 | 19.3% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.7–13.5 | 16.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.7–9.3 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.4%11–13.8 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%35.6–45.8 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.6%18.7–24.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.5%16.3–20.9 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.9–11.3 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.5–8.2 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.2–13.2 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 4% | 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 Texas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Onalaska
Is Onalaska a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Onalaska is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health, #562 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Onalaska?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.4% and 47.2%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Onalaska?
Mid Coast Medical Center-Trinity in Trinity, 18.1 miles in a straight line from Onalaska’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Onalaska have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.8–18%), against 19.1% across Texas.
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 Onalaska more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Onalaska.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Texas 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.