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–Not graded
Health in Forest · CDC PLACES 2025

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 54634, 54651, 54638, 54639. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Forest

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Forest

1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.5%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Forest runs above Wisconsin on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in Forest

57.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.1% across Wisconsin. Among those 65 and older, 17.3% have lost all their teeth (Wisconsin 9.9%). Checkups ↓

Making ends meet is harder in Forest

1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.1%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. No reliable transportation (8.9% vs 6.7%) and utility shut-off threats (7.3% vs 5.5%) are higher too. 20.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% 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 Forest’s likely range; Forest’s figures come from ZIP codes 54634, 54651, 54638, 54639, which may reach past town lines.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Forest adults…

Forest runs above WI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Forest adults have COPD
Wisconsin: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 9.1–11.9%
Better than WIWorseAbout the sameWisconsin
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Forest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.

77%Yearly checkupWI 78%
57%Dentist visitWI 67%
83%Cholesterol checkWI 86%
66%Colon screeningWI 69%
75%MammogramWI 80%
80%Taking BP medsWI 78%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Forest 10.4% · Wisconsin 1 in 13 (8%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Forest adults worry about having enough food
17.1% · WI 12.1%
Worse than WI
1 in 8
Forest adults worry about keeping their housing
12% · WI 9.7%
Worse than WI
1 in 14
Forest adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.3% · WI 5.5%
Worse than WI
1 in 11
Forest adults lack reliable transportation
8.9% · WI 6.7%
Worse than WI

20.5% of Forest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.

Getting care

Care in and near Forest

No hospital or community health center in Forest itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERGundersen St. Josephs Hospital and ClinicsHillsboro · 7.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careScenic Bluffs Health CenterNorwalk · 12 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.7 mi
Gundersen St. Josephs Hospital and Clinics
Hillsboro · not rated
ERRural critical access
12 mi
Scenic Bluffs Health Center
5 sites · nearest in Norwalk
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.3 mi
Tomah Memorial Hospital
Tomah · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
21.6 mi
Tomah VA Medical Center
Tomah · not rated
For veterans
21.7 mi
Mile Bluff Medical Center
Mauston · ★★★★★
ER
22.8 mi
La Clinica De Los Campesinos
2 sites · nearest in Mauston
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Forest itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Forest itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Forest itself

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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin

Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.

Get no exercise 34.6%WI 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.5%WI 32.6%
Binge drink 18.1%WI 19%
Smoke cigarettes 19.9%WI 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Forest, betterForest, worseAbout the sameWisconsin
Where Forest gets moving

8 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Forest adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Forest runs above Wisconsin.

1 in 3Forest adults feel lonely
30.9% · WI 30.6% · About the same as WI
1 in 5Forest adults lack social or emotional support
21.1% · WI 20.2% · About the same as WI
1 in 4Forest adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.6% · WI 23.2% · About the same as WI
1 in 6Forest adults are in frequent mental distress
17.7% · WI 15.5% · Worse than WI
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Forest adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Forest and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Whitestown: 42.3%Hillsboro: 41.3%Union: 40.8%Wellington: 44.2%Ontario: 40.8%Clinton: 39.9%Sheldon: 44.4%Stark: 41.5%Wonewoc: 41.7%Glendale: 43.9%Greenwood: 40.5%Bloom: 39.8%Henrietta: 39.2%Wilton: 45.4%Wilton: 45.2%Forest: 41.5%ForestWhitestownHillsboroUnionWellingtonGundersen St. Josephs Hospital and Clinics · Hillsboro · 7.7 miHScenic Bluffs CHC-Norwalk · Norwalk · 12 mi+
Healthier than WINear WILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#8 of 16 towns on this map, healthiest first
Union40.8%
Hillsboro41.3%
Forest41.5%
Whitestown42.3%
Wellington44.2%
WI37.7%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Whitestown————
Hillsboro————
Union————
Wellington————

Whitestown, Hillsboro, Union and Wellington: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

37.3%

of Forest adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.2%
Thinking or memory16.6%
Hearing9.6%
Errands alone11.3%
Vision6.6%
Dressing or bathing5.3%
Wisconsin

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?

Gundersen St. Josephs Hospital and Clinics in Hillsboro, 7.7 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.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.