Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Merrill is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Merrill trails Wisconsin on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merrill. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merrill
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Merrill
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Merrill runs above Wisconsin on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Merrill adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.7%), vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
Smoking is more common in Merrill
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.4%), vs 13.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
Merrill is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Merrill is healthier than 21%. Against the 6,822 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 43%. 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 Merrill’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Merrill’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merrill is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #346 of 357 in Wisconsin. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 42% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Merrill’s median household income is $53,148; among the 6,822 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 43%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Most Wisconsin towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Merrill is healthier than 3% of graded towns, against 21% nationally.
Out of every 100 Merrill adults…
Merrill runs above WI on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
3.1 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Care in and near Merrill
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Merrill, 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 Merrill; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Merrill adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Merrill adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
1 in 3 Merrill 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.
17.2% of Merrill adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Merrill and the towns around it
Merrill’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill | C− | 43.6% | 13% | 17.4% | CDC place |
| Merrill | C | 42.4% | 12.6% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Scott · Pine River | C | 42.4% | 12.5% | 16.3% | ZIP 54452 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Merrill adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merrill
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merrill is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Merrill’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merrill | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.4%19.6–25.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.7–17.5 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.5–19.7 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.6%37–50.1 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.3–14.8 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.6–41.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%32.8–40.5 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%29.2–35.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.5–10.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%8–10.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.1%13.2–19.7 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.4%14.9–20 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.7%28.2–37.5 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.3–21.4 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5%28.4–39.5 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.6–10.6 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%74.3–80.8 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.1%58.7–65.6 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.4–86.2 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.9–81 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%62–71.4 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%70.2–83.6 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.9–29 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%27.3–36.5 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.1%17.2–23.3 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.1%13–17.9 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.6–13 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.7–7.7 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7.1–9.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.2%14.9–20 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.3%33.1–41.8 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.6%15.5–19.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.8–17.6 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.3–10.4 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5.2 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Merrill
Is Merrill a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merrill is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #346 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 43%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merrill?
CDC estimates 43.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 50.1%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merrill?
Aspirus Merrill Hospital in Merrill, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Merrill’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Merrill have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.6–10.6%), 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 Merrill 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 Merrill.
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.