Where Forest residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Forest, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54664, 54639. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forest
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Forest
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Forest runs above Wisconsin on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Forest
60.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.1% across Wisconsin. Among those 65 and older, 16.3% have lost all their teeth (Wisconsin 9.9%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Forest
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.7%), vs 13.6% 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 Forest’s likely range; Forest’s figures come from ZIP codes 54664, 54639, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Forest adults…
Forest runs above WI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Forest is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Forest as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest 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 mile of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Forest
No hospital or community health center in Forest 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 Forest; ≈ 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).
How Forest adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Forest 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.
16.2% of Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Forest 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 Forest adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Forest
Why doesn’t Forest have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Forest.
What hospital is closest to Forest?
Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua, 13.5 miles in a straight line from Forest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Forest.
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. 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.