Photo: Bohao Zhao · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, La Crosse is healthier than 80%
La Crosse differs from Wisconsin on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Crosse. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Crosse
La Crosse is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, La Crosse is healthier than 49%. Against the 7,684 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 80%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in La Crosse
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19.6%), vs 15.5% across Wisconsin. Depression is above the state too: 27.7%, vs 23.2% across Wisconsin. Mind & connection ↓
Making ends meet is harder in La Crosse
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.2%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. No reliable transportation (10% vs 6.7%) and utility shut-off threats (7.2% vs 5.5%) are higher too. 18.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
La Crosse has a five-star hospital
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in La Crosse
La Crosse runs below Wisconsin on five chronic conditions, most of all cancer (6.8% vs 8.6%), diabetes (9.3% vs 11.4%) and high blood pressure (27.8% vs 33.3%). Conditions ↓
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 La Crosse’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind La Crosse’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Crosse is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns, #271 of 357 in Wisconsin. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 88% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). La Crosse’s median household income is $55,866; among the 7,684 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 80%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Wisconsin towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state La Crosse is healthier than 24% of graded towns, against 49% nationally.
Where La Crosse compares well: high blood pressure, 27.8% (U.S. 34.4%); arthritis, 22.5% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.8% (U.S. 7.9%).
How La Crosse adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, La Crosse runs above Wisconsin.
1 in 3 La Crosse 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.
18.5% of La Crosse adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near La Crosse
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in La Crosse, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 La Crosse; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 La Crosse adults…
La Crosse runs below WI on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
50 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of La Crosse adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
La Crosse and the towns around it
La Crosse’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | B− | 38.7% | 9.3% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Shelby | B | 38% | 9.7% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
| Medary | B | 37.9% | 9.3% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| Campbell | C− | 42% | 12.5% | 17.7% | ZIP 54603 |
| French Island | — | — | — | — | |
| Onalaska | A− | 36.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Onalaska | A− | 37.1% | 9.8% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
French Island: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Crosse adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Crosse
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Crosse is better than Wisconsin on 6 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside La Crosse’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Crosse | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%16.9–21.5 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.6–14.7 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.6–21.9 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.7%33.1–44.1 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8.1–10.4 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.8%24.9–30.7 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.6%28.4–34.6 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20.2–24.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12%10.6–13.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.6–6.9 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.7%9.3–14.3 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12.4–16.1 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%24.2–31.9 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20%16.9–23.2 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%28.4–39.1 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7.2–9.7 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%73.2–79.6 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.2%59.6–66.6 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.3%76.2–80.5 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.9%69.4–74.1 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%65.2–74.4 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.7%74.1–86.1 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%24.2–31.1 | 23.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%30.6–39.6 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%17.4–23.3 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.2%13.8–18.5 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.7–13.1 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.2–8.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%8.8–11.3 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.5%16.1–20.9 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.2%30.5–38.1 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.3%10.9–13.8 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.4–19.1 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%9.3–11.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 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 La Crosse
Is La Crosse a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Crosse is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #271 of 357 in Wisconsin. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Crosse?
CDC estimates 38.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 44.1%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Crosse?
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center in La Crosse, 1.6 miles in a straight line from La Crosse’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Crosse have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–9.7%), 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 La Crosse more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Crosse.
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.