Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Independence is healthier than 59%
Independence trails Wisconsin on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Independence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence
Making ends meet is harder in Independence
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.4%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. Housing insecurity (13.2% vs 9.7%) and utility shut-off threats (7% vs 5.5%) are higher too. 16.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Many Independence adults are uninsured, but health holds up
1 in 7 working-age adults has no health insurance (14%, vs 8% across Wisconsin). Yet the share who say their health is fair or poor, 20.1%, is about level with the state’s 17.8%. Checkups ↓
Independence is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Independence is healthier than 36%. Against the 8,347 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 59%. Health Grade ↓
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 Independence’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Independence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 56% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Independence’s median household income is $58,000; among the 8,347 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 59%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.5% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
Independence runs above WI on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Independence
No hospital or community health center in Independence 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 Independence; ≈ 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 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Independence adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Independence 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.
Independence and the towns around it
Independence has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | C+ | 42.8% | 11.8% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Arcadia | C− | 43.9% | 12.6% | 17% | ZIP codes |
| Burnside | — | — | — | — | |
| Lincoln | — | — | — | — | |
| Whitehall | C− | 43% | 13.3% | 18.3% | CDC place |
Burnside and Lincoln: 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 Independence adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Independence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.1%17.2–23.3 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.4–16.3 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.7–18.9 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%35.5–50.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.8%10.1–13.4 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%28.8–36.4 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.2%29.3–37.1 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9%22.9–28.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.1–11.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.9–8.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6–8.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3–3.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.5–15.7 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.4–18.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.6%26.6–36.7 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20%16.7–23.7 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%30.2–42.8 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14%11.5–16.7 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%71.2–78.7 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.7%59.2–66.2 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.9%80.5–85.1 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.4%72.5–78.2 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.9%66.4–75.1 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.1–82.5 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%19.6–26.4 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30%25.2–34.9 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.6%18.1–25.2 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.4%13.6–19.6 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11–15.4 | 9.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%5.9–8.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.2–9.8 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.5%13.6–19.6 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.8%27.5–36.4 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%12.3–16.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13–17.1 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.4–4.6 | 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 Independence
Is Independence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ 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 Independence?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 50.3%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence?
Gundersen Tri-County Hospital & Clinics in Whitehall, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Independence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Independence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–16.7%), 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 Independence more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Independence.
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.