On CDC estimates, Merton is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns
Merton differs from Wisconsin on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 20 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Merton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merton
Against towns with similar incomes, Merton’s lead shrinks
Merton is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns, but 59% of the 1,559 towns with similar household incomes ($130K–$217K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Merton doesn’t win on
23.9% of adults binge drink, vs 19% across Wisconsin, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Merton is an active town
Only 16.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Merton
Merton runs below Wisconsin on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.8% vs 6.5%), stroke (2.2% vs 3.4%) and heart disease (4.4% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 10% 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 Merton’s likely range.
What’s behind Merton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merton is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns, #7 of 357 in Wisconsin. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 98% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 71%.
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). Merton’s median household income is $173,913; among the 1,559 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($130K–$217K), it’s healthier than 59%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Merton adults…
Merton runs below WI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Merton residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Merton
No hospital or community health center in Merton 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 Merton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Merton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Merton adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Merton does better than Wisconsin.
3 in 10 Merton 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.
5.2% of Merton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Merton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Merton adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Merton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Merton is better than Wisconsin on 20 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Merton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Merton | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.2%9.1–13.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.1%8.5–11.8 | 12.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.1–15 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.1%28.9–37.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.1–9.7 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.8%25.9–31.9 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%29.9–35.8 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20.1–25.1 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.8%3.1–4.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.4%6.2–9.3 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.4%7.1–12.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.8%13.7–20.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 23.9%20.9–27.3 | 19% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%27.3–35.2 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.2%3.2–5.6 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.4–81.2 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 78.6%76.6–81.2 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.4–90.8 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.6%71.2–77.9 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%66.8–73.8 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.8%79.9–88.4 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.4–24 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28%24.7–31.7 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 15.4%13–18.1 | 20.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.9%4.3–7.8 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.8%4.5–7.4 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.4%2.7–4.1 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.9%3.2–4.8 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.2%3.7–7.1 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.2%17.9–24.9 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.4%6.8–10.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.5%7.9–11.4 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.6%4–5.3 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.5%2.1–3 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.1%4.2–6.1 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.8–2.7 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Merton
Is Merton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Merton is healthier than 95% of U.S. towns: A for health, #7 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 59%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Merton?
CDC estimates 33.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.9% and 37.7%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Merton?
Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls, 9.1 miles in a straight line from Merton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Merton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.2–5.6%), 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 Merton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Merton.
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.