Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Nekoosa is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Nekoosa trails Wisconsin on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nekoosa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nekoosa
Dental care lags in Nekoosa
59.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.1% across Wisconsin. Among those 65 and older, 20.7% have lost all their teeth (Wisconsin 9.9%). Checkups ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Nekoosa
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.4%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Nekoosa runs above Wisconsin on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Nekoosa
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.1%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. Utility shut-off threats (6.9% vs 5.5%) and no reliable transportation (8.4% vs 6.7%) are higher too. 18% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Nekoosa is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Nekoosa is healthier than 16%. Against the 4,494 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 47%. 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 Nekoosa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Nekoosa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nekoosa is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 39% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Nekoosa’s median household income is $46,458; among the 4,494 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Nekoosa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Nekoosa adults…
Nekoosa runs above WI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Nekoosa is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Nekoosa 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.
18% of Nekoosa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near Nekoosa
No hospital or community health center in Nekoosa 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 Nekoosa; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Nekoosa adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Nekoosa 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.
Nekoosa and the towns around it
Nekoosa’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nekoosa | C− | 42.6% | 14% | 18.7% | CDC place |
| Saratoga | B− | 39.4% | 13.1% | 14.9% | ZIP codes |
| Port Edwards | C | 40.2% | 14.4% | 16% | ZIP codes |
| Port Edwards | C− | 42.3% | 15.4% | 18.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Nekoosa adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Nekoosa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nekoosa is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Nekoosa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Nekoosa | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.9%19.3–26.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.2–18.4 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.5–19.9 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%37–47.9 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.1–15.9 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%33.7–40.7 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.8%32.3–39.3 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.3%28.3–34.3 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.2–10.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.6–9.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.4%7.8–10.9 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–5.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.7%17.3–24.4 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.7%15.5–22.1 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.7%27.9–37.4 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.9%16–21.9 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%28.2–37.6 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%7.8–12.6 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.5–80 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.1%55.7–62.4 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%81.8–86.4 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.3–81.5 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.4%64–72.3 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%71.7–84.2 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.3–27.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.1%25.8–34.3 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.6%18.2–24.9 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.1%12.8–19.5 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%9.4–13.6 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.7–8 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.4%7.1–9.8 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18%14.3–21.6 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32–40.8 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.4–20.7 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%13.8–18.6 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.3 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.1–12.3 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.2–5.8 | 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 Nekoosa
Is Nekoosa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nekoosa is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 47%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Nekoosa?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 47.9%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Nekoosa?
Aspirus Riverview Hospital & Clinics in Wisconsin Rapids, 6.1 miles in a straight line from Nekoosa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Nekoosa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–12.6%), 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 Nekoosa 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 Nekoosa.
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.