Smith Valley School · Photo: Jonathunder · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Medary is healthier than 35%
Medary differs from Wisconsin on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54601, 54650, 54603. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Medary
Mental distress runs high in Medary
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (18.3%), vs 15.5% across Wisconsin. Depression is above the state too: 26.7%, vs 23.2% across Wisconsin. Mind & connection ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Medary’s lead shrinks
Medary is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, but 35% of the 7,830 towns with similar household incomes ($79K–$131K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Getting around is a barrier for more Medary adults
1 in 11 adults lack reliable transportation (8.8%), vs 6.7% across Wisconsin. Everyday needs ↓
Medary is older than Wisconsin, yet healthier on chronic conditions
Medary runs below Wisconsin on diabetes (9.3% vs 11.4%) and stroke (2.8% vs 3.4%). That’s despite an older population: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%). 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 Medary’s likely range; Medary’s figures come from ZIP codes 54601, 54650, 54603, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Medary’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Medary is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 88% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Medary’s median household income is $105,114; among the 7,830 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($79K–$131K), it’s healthier than 35%, less than its income alone would suggest.
How Medary adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Medary runs above Wisconsin.
1 in 3 Medary 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.
Out of every 100 Medary adults…
Medary runs below WI on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Medary is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Medary as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.7% of Medary adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near Medary
No hospital or community health center in Medary 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 Medary; ≈ 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.
4.3 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Medary adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Medary and the towns around it
Medary’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medary | B | 37.9% | 9.3% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
| La Crosse | B− | 38.7% | 9.3% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Onalaska | A− | 36.2% | 10.2% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Barre | B | 37.9% | 9.4% | 12.7% | ZIP codes |
| Onalaska | A− | 37.1% | 9.8% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
| Hamilton | A− | 37.8% | 10.2% | 12% | ZIP codes |
| Shelby | B | 38% | 9.7% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Medary adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Medary
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Medary is better than Wisconsin on 6 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Medary’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Medary | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.7%15.7–20.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11.3–14.2 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.4–20.4 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.9%32.3–43.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.4%25.5–31.4 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.8%29.5–35.9 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.6%21.3–26 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6%5.4–6.6 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10%8–12.4 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11.2–14.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.4%22.8–30.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.8–22.9 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%27.6–38.1 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.3–8.8 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74.3–80.5 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.8%62.3–69.1 | 67.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.6%78.7–82.5 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.6%71.1–75.9 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.1%66.5–75.4 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.6%75.2–86.8 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.7%23.4–30.1 | 23.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.9%29.4–38.3 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.4%16.6–22.3 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.9%11.9–16.1 | 12.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%8.5–11.6 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.4–7.3 | 5.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.7–9.9 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.7%13.6–17.9 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%29.1–36.4 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12%10.7–13.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%14–17.5 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%3–3.6 | 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 Medary
Is Medary a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Medary is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B 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 Medary?
CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.3% and 43.3%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Medary?
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center in La Crosse, 4.0 miles in a straight line from Medary’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Medary have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–8.8%), 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 Medary more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Medary.
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.