Farmers and Merchants Union Bank · Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Elba is healthier than 48%
Elba differs from Wisconsin on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 53925, 53579, 53916. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elba
Against towns with similar incomes, Elba’s lead shrinks
Elba is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, but 48% of the 7,061 towns with similar household incomes ($83K–$138K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Elba adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Wisconsin. 1 in 10 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 Elba’s likely range; Elba’s figures come from ZIP codes 53925, 53579, 53916, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Elba’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elba is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 80% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 53%.
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). Elba’s median household income is $110,500; among the 7,061 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$138K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.8% of Elba adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Elba adults…
Elba runs above WI on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Elba
No hospital or community health center in Elba 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 Elba; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
0.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Elba adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Elba adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Elba 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.
Elba and the towns around it
Elba’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elba | B+ | 35% | 10.7% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
| Columbus | A− | 32.1% | 9.9% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Portland | B− | 41.8% | 11.1% | 14.3% | ZIP codes |
| Lowell | B− | 42.5% | 11.3% | 14.6% | ZIP codes |
| Columbus | — | — | — | — | |
| Fountain Prairie | — | — | — | — | |
| Calamus | B | 38.4% | 10.9% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
Columbus and Fountain Prairie: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elba adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elba
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elba is better than Wisconsin on 4 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Elba’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elba | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.1%14.1–18.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.3–14.3 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.4–16.8 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35%29.6–40.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.5–12.1 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.3%29.2–35.4 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%31.4–37.9 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%25.2–30.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.7–11.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.8–11.1 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.3%11.2–15.4 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%21.7–29.1 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.1%16.4–22 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%27.5–37.4 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.7–8.3 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.1%74.1–80 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69%66.2–71.8 | 67.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%85.8–89 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.7–81.3 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%65.1–72.6 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.8%73.1–83.5 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%20.3–26 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.5%25.6–33.4 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%16.1–21.3 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.6%8–11.4 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%7–9.6 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%4–5.4 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.2–11.8 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.9%25.4–32.4 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.1%11.3–14.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.8–13.8 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.5–4.5 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Elba
Is Elba a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elba is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elba?
CDC estimates 35% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 40.5%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elba?
Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, 4.3 miles in a straight line from Elba’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elba have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–8.3%), 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 Elba more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elba.
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.