Photo: Billertl · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Ashland is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Ashland trails Wisconsin on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ashland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ashland
Dental care lags in Ashland
60.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.1% across Wisconsin. Among those 65 and older, 14.4% have lost all their teeth (Wisconsin 9.9%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Ashland
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. In all, Ashland runs above Wisconsin on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Ashland
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (15.6%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. Utility shut-off threats (7.4% vs 5.5%) and no reliable transportation (9% vs 6.7%) are higher too. 18.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Ashland is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ashland is healthier than 23%. Against the 7,274 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 45%. 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 Wisconsin figure falls outside Ashland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Ashland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns, #339 of 357 in Wisconsin. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 39% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Ashland’s median household income is $54,529; among the 7,274 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 45%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most Wisconsin towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Ashland is healthier than 5% of graded towns, against 23% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ashland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Ashland adults…
Ashland runs above WI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.2% of Ashland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near Ashland
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ashland, 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 Ashland; ≈ 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 Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
5.6 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
How Ashland adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ashland runs above Wisconsin.
1 in 3 Ashland 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.
Ashland 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ashland adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ashland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ashland is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Ashland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ashland | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.5%18.9–24.3 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.2 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.7–19.8 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.2%34.6–47.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.5–15 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%31.1–38.3 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.5%29.8–37.2 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.9%25–30.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–8.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.7–9.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.8–4.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%11.6–17.1 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%14.9–19.7 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%27.3–36.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.4–20.4 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33%27.4–39 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%6.9–9.9 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%73.6–80.4 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.9%57.1–64.2 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.1%81–85.1 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.4–81.3 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%62.8–72.2 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.5%66.7–80.9 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.5%22.9–30.1 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%28.9–38 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%17.7–23.9 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%13.4–18.1 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%10–13.3 | 9.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%7.9–10.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.2%15.6–20.9 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6%30.5–38.9 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.7–18.8 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.7–17.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.4–6.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.3–11.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 3.5% | 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 Wisconsin figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ashland
Is Ashland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #339 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 45%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ashland?
CDC estimates 41.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 47.7%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ashland?
Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center in Ashland, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Ashland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ashland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–9.9%), 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 Ashland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ashland.
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.