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–Not graded
Health in Foster · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Foster residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Foster, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54493, 54741, 54771. How CDC estimates town health

Fair or poor health
21.9%
Worse than WI (17.8%)
Obesity
37.6%
About the same as WI (37.7%)
No exercise
33.1%
Worse than WI (26.6%)
Uninsured
9.5%
About the same as WI (8%)
Feel lonely
29.7%
About the same as WI (30.6%)
Nearest ER
15.5 mi
Marshfield Medical Center - Neillsville
What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Foster

9.6%have COPD · WI 6.5%60.3%saw a dentist this year · WI 67.1%33.1%get no exercise · WI 26.6%

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Foster

1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.6%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Foster runs above Wisconsin on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in Foster

60.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.1% across Wisconsin. Among those 65 and older, 14% have lost all their teeth (Wisconsin 9.9%). Checkups ↓

More Foster adults get no exercise

1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.1%), vs 26.6% 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 Foster’s likely range; Foster’s figures come from ZIP codes 54493, 54741, 54771, which may reach past town lines.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Foster adults…

Foster runs above WI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Foster adults have COPD
Wisconsin: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 8.3–11%
Better than WIWorseAbout the sameWisconsin
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

77%Yearly checkupWI 78%
60%Dentist visitWI 67%
86%Cholesterol checkWI 86%
69%Colon screeningWI 69%
75%MammogramWI 80%
81%Taking BP medsWI 78%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Foster 9.5% · Wisconsin 1 in 13 (8%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin

Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.

Get no exercise 33.1%WI 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.4%WI 32.6%
Binge drink 16.8%WI 19%
Smoke cigarettes 17.9%WI 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Foster, betterFoster, worseAbout the sameWisconsin
Where Foster gets moving

3.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

1Clark County Forest3.4 mi of trails2Eau Claire County Forest20 acres
Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Foster

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

HNearest ERMarshfield Medical Center - NeillsvilleNeillsville · 15.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLakes Community Health Center, Inc theAugusta · 12.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
12.7 mi
Lakes Community Health Center, Inc the
3 sites · nearest in Augusta
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15.5 mi
Marshfield Medical Center - Neillsville
Neillsville · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
16.6 mi
Family Health Center of Marshfield
5 sites · nearest in Neillsville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
18.7 mi
Aspirus Stanley Hospital
Stanley · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
18.8 mi
Mayo Clinic Health System Oakridge
Osseo · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
29.6 mi
Gundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics
Whitehall · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Foster itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Foster itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Foster 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 Foster; ≈ 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).

Mind & connection

How Foster adults are doing

About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.

3 in 10Foster adults feel lonely
29.7% · WI 30.6% · About the same as WI
1 in 5Foster adults lack social or emotional support
20.9% · WI 20.2% · About the same as WI
1 in 5Foster adults have been diagnosed with depression
22% · WI 23.2% · About the same as WI
1 in 6Foster adults are in frequent mental distress
15.7% · WI 15.5% · About the same as WI
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Foster 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.

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 8
Foster adults worry about having enough food
13.3% · WI 12.1%
About the same as WI
1 in 10
Foster adults worry about keeping their housing
9.7% · WI 9.7%
About the same as WI
1 in 18
Foster adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.6% · WI 5.5%
About the same as WI
1 in 14
Foster adults lack reliable transportation
7% · WI 6.7%
About the same as WI

14.5% of Foster adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.

Around town

Foster and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Fairchild: 35.6%Hendren: 37.8%Bridge Creek: 33.9%Butler: 39.5%Mentor: 38.1%Seif: 37.6%Cleveland: 36.7%Fairchild: 35.2%Mead: 37.7%Eaton: 37.4%Ludington: 33.3%Garfield: 38.2%Wilson: 41.1%Lincoln: 31.6%Otter Creek: 36.3%Worden: 41.7%Hewett: 37.5%Alma: 39.9%Garden Valley: 39.3%Weston: 37.5%Foster: 37.6%FosterFairchildHendrenBridge CreekButlerMentorSeifMarshfield Medical Center - Neillsville · Neillsville · 15.5 miHMayo Clinic Health System Oakridge · Osseo · 18.8 miHGundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics · Whitehall · 29.6 miHNorthlakes - Augusta · Augusta · 12.7 mi+Family Health Center - Neillsville Dental Center · Neillsville · 16.6 mi+
Healthier than WINear WILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#11 of 21 towns on this map, healthiest first
Bridge Creek33.9%
Fairchild35.6%
Foster37.6%
Seif37.6%
Hendren37.8%
Mentor38.1%
Butler39.5%
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
Fairchild————
Hendren————
Bridge CreekC+33.9%12.3%17.5%ZIP codes
Mentor————
Butler————
Seif————

Fairchild, Hendren, Mentor, Butler and Seif: 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.

34.9%

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

Walking or climbing stairs17.8%
Thinking or memory14.5%
Hearing9.8%
Errands alone9.6%
Vision5.6%
Dressing or bathing4.6%
Wisconsin

Questions about health in Foster

Why doesn’t Foster have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Foster.

What hospital is closest to Foster?

Marshfield Medical Center - Neillsville in Neillsville, 15.5 miles in a straight line from Foster’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 Foster.

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.