Center Valley Grade School · Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Center is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
Center differs from Wisconsin on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54913, 54106. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Center
Binge drinking is the habit Center doesn’t win on
22.3% of adults binge drink, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Center’s lead shrinks
Center is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, but 60% of the 6,476 towns with similar household incomes ($86K–$144K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Center adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Wisconsin. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke and COPD are less common in Center
Center runs below Wisconsin on stroke (2.8% vs 3.4%) and COPD (5.5% vs 6.5%). Conditions ↓
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 Center’s likely range; Center’s figures come from ZIP codes 54913, 54106, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Center’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Center is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, #90 of 357 in Wisconsin. 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 86% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 55%.
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). Center’s median household income is $114,821; among the 6,476 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($86K–$144K), it’s healthier than 60%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
6.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.3% of Center adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Center adults…
Center runs below WI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Center
No hospital or community health center in Center 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 Center; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Center adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Center adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Center 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.
Center and the towns around it
Center’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | A− | 35.5% | 9.7% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Appleton | B+ | 36.3% | 10% | 13% | CDC place |
| Black Creek | — | — | — | — | |
| Freedom | A− | 35.8% | 9.6% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Ellington | B+ | 37.6% | 10.5% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Grand Chute | A− | 35.1% | 9.5% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
| Osborn | B− | 38.2% | 11.2% | 14.7% | ZIP 54165 |
Black Creek: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Center adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Center
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Center is better than Wisconsin on 12 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Center’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Center | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.7%12.7–16.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15%13.3–16.7 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%30.6–40.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.4–11 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.5%29.3–35.6 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%31.6–38.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.4%23.7–28.9 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.7–9.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.5%4.8–6.1 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.4%5.9–9 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%10.2–13.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%20.3–26.8 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 22.3%19.1–25.5 | 19% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.1%26.4–35.7 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%5.1–7.1 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.7–81.7 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.1%69.1–74.9 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.4–88.6 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%73.9–79.5 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72%67.9–75.9 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.2%75.4–86.1 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%20.5–26.6 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%27.1–34.5 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%16.3–21.4 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.6%7.2–10.1 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6.3–8.5 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%7.1–9.7 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.2%22.1–28.3 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.9%9.5–12.4 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.3–6.7 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.7–7.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.5–3.1 | 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 Center
Is Center a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Center is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #90 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 60%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Center?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.6% and 40.3%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Center?
Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton in Appleton, 7.2 miles in a straight line from Center’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Center have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.1%), 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 Center 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 Center.
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.