Photo: Awkwafaba · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Big Bend is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Big Bend differs from Wisconsin on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Big Bend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Bend
Big Bend keeps up with checkups
It beats Wisconsin on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.2% vs 67.1%) and cholesterol checks (88.4% vs 85.9%). Checkups ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Big Bend’s lead shrinks
Big Bend is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns, but 62% of the 4,084 towns with similar household incomes ($101K–$168K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Big Bend doesn’t win on
22.9% of adults binge drink, vs 19% across Wisconsin, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Big Bend is an active town
Only 19.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
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 Big Bend’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Big Bend’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Bend is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 93% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 64%.
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). Big Bend’s median household income is $134,615; among the 4,084 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($101K–$168K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Bend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
1.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Big Bend adults…
Big Bend runs below WI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Big Bend
No hospital or community health center in Big Bend 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 Big Bend; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Big Bend adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Big Bend does better than Wisconsin.
3 in 10 Big Bend 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.
6.8% of Big Bend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Big Bend 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 Big Bend adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Bend
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Bend is better than Wisconsin on 17 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Big Bend’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Bend | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.1%10.8–15.8 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%9.7–13.2 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.3%30.1–39 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%7.9–10.8 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.5%28.6–34.6 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.9%31.1–37.1 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22.4–27.7 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%8–9.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.7–6.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.9%4–6 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.2%5.2–7.8 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%8.8–14.3 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.8%16.4–24 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.9%19.9–26.2 | 19% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.4%28.3–36.1 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%3.9–6.9 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%75–80.9 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.2%71.1–76.1 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.5–90.2 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%72.8–79 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.2%70.1–77.1 | 69.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 84.3%80.5–88.7 | 80.3% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.5%18.9–24.6 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29%25.4–32.9 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16.6%13.9–19.5 | 20.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.2%5.4–9.3 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.8%5.3–8.4 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.8%3–4.7 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%3.7–5.4 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.8%5–9 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.9%21.4–28.8 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%8.5–12.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.8%9–12.7 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.7 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.6–3.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5–7.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.1–3 | 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 Big Bend
Is Big Bend a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Bend is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big Bend?
CDC estimates 34.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 39%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Bend?
Froedtert Community Hospital in New Berlin, 7.0 miles in a straight line from Big Bend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Big Bend have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–6.9%), 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 Big Bend 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 Big Bend.
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.