On CDC estimates, DeForest is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
DeForest differs from Wisconsin on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for DeForest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in DeForest
COPD and heart disease are less common in DeForest
DeForest runs below Wisconsin on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.7% vs 6.5%), heart disease (4.8% vs 6.6%) and diabetes (8.3% vs 11.4%). Conditions ↓
DeForest is an active town
Only 20.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
Fewer DeForest 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 ↓
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 DeForest’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind DeForest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, DeForest is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #40 of 357 in Wisconsin. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% 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). DeForest’s median household income is $106,419; among the 7,684 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$133K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 DeForest adults…
DeForest runs below WI on 9 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.
5.8 miles of trails across 19 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.
8.5% of DeForest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near DeForest
No hospital or community health center in DeForest 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 DeForest; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of DeForest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How DeForest adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 DeForest 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.
DeForest and the towns around it
DeForest’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of DeForest adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for DeForest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, DeForest is better than Wisconsin on 19 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside DeForest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | DeForest | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.3%11.5–15.2 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.8–12.5 | 12.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.3–16.8 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%30.1–38.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.2–9.4 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.4%23.8–29 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30%27.1–32.9 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.2%19–23.4 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.2–5.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7%5.7–8.5 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9.3–13.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.6%17.7–23.5 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.3%18.3–24.2 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.1%25.7–32.6 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%5.1–7.4 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.1%70.9–77.1 | 77.6% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.3%68.7–73.8 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85.1–88.5 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.5%71.1–77.4 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.3%65.5–72.8 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%71.5–82.5 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.5–28.3 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30%26.6–33.4 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.5%16–21 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.6%7.1–10.2 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.1%6.9–9.5 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.8–5.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%7–10.2 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.2%21.3–27.1 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.3%9.9–12.7 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.3–3 | 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 DeForest
Is DeForest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, DeForest is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #40 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in DeForest?
CDC estimates 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 38.4%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to DeForest?
University of WI Hospitals & Clinics Authority in Madison, 11.4 miles in a straight line from DeForest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in DeForest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.4%), 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 DeForest 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 DeForest.
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.