Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Nelson residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Nelson, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54756, 54610, 54736. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nelson
Heart disease, COPD and cancer run high in Nelson
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. 1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. Cancer is also above the state: 11%, vs 8.6% across Wisconsin. In all, Nelson runs above Wisconsin on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 39% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and heart disease, COPD and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Nelson is short on primary care and mental health care
Nelson’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Nelson, and more people treating it
38.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Wisconsin 33.3%), but 81.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Nelson’s likely range; Nelson’s figures come from ZIP codes 54756, 54610, 54736, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Nelson adults…
Nelson runs above WI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Nelson is an older town: 39% 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 Nelson as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Nelson
No hospital or community health center in Nelson 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 Nelson; ≈ 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 Nelson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
1.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Nelson adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Nelson 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.
11.3% of Nelson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Nelson 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 Nelson adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Nelson
Why doesn’t Nelson have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Nelson.
What hospital is closest to Nelson?
St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Wabasha, 5.2 miles in a straight line from Nelson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Nelson.
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. 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.