Photo: Jasperthedog28 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Appleton is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns
Appleton beats Wisconsin on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Appleton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Appleton
What’s behind Appleton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Appleton is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns, #142 of 357 in Wisconsin. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 81% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 47%).
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). Appleton’s median household income is $80,483; among the 10,722 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$101K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Appleton
2 hospitals in Appleton, 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 Appleton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Appleton adults…
Appleton runs below WI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 40 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Appleton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Appleton adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
1 in 3 Appleton 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.
12% of Appleton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Appleton and the towns around it
Appleton’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 10 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | B+ | 36.3% | 10% | 13% | CDC place |
| Grand Chute | A− | 35.1% | 9.5% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
| Harrison | A | 32.3% | 8.4% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Freedom | A− | 35.8% | 9.6% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Fox Crossing | B | 39.7% | 11% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Menasha | C+ | 41.3% | 11.7% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Center | A− | 35.5% | 9.7% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Buchanan | B+ | 36.9% | 9.9% | 13.2% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Appleton adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Appleton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Appleton is better than Wisconsin on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Appleton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Appleton | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.5%14.9–18.3 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%11.1–13.5 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.4–17.6 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.3%31.9–40.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.9–11.2 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%29–34.5 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.6%30.7–36.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.2%23–27.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7.1–8.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.9–10 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11.6–14.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.1%23.1–29 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.4%18.7–24.2 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%28.4–36.5 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%74.8–80.3 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.2%65.5–70.8 | 67.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%83.2–86.3 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.5%73–77.8 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.9%66.3–73.4 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.1%76.1–85.4 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%21.2–26.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.6%28.5–34.9 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.6%17.5–22 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.8%10.4–13.2 | 12.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8.4–10.6 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 5.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%6–7.3 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12%10.8–13.4 | 12.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.2%24.4–29.9 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.7%10.5–13 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.6–14.2 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.9–3.4 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Wisconsin figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Appleton
Is Appleton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Appleton is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #142 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Appleton?
CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 40.7%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Appleton?
Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton in Appleton, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Appleton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Appleton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–8.8%), against 8% across Wisconsin.
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 Appleton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Appleton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Wisconsin 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.