Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Niagara is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Niagara trails Wisconsin on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Niagara. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Niagara
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Niagara
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.5%, vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. In all, Niagara runs above Wisconsin on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Niagara
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.9%), vs 13.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
Niagara is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Niagara is healthier than 30%. Against the 9,171 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 46%. 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 Niagara’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Niagara’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Niagara is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 60% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Niagara’s median household income is $60,994; among the 9,171 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Niagara adults…
Niagara runs above WI on 7 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Niagara
No hospital or community health center in Niagara 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 Niagara; ≈ 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 Niagara adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Niagara adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Niagara 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.
15.4% of Niagara adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Niagara 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 Niagara adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Niagara
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Niagara is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Niagara’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Niagara | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.9%17.7–24.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.4–17.6 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.7 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%31.5–45.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4%11.5–15.3 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%33.2–41.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%33.3–41.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.5–35.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–12.9 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.2–11.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.5%7.4–9.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.8%7.4–10.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.8–5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.1–15.4 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%13.9–20 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.6%26.6–36.9 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.9–21.1 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%26–38.2 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%6.4–10.3 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75.2–81.8 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.3%60.8–67.7 | 67.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.3–88.2 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.4%77.6–82.9 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%62.1–71.9 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%66.1–81.1 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%21–28.3 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.8%25.4–34.7 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%17.2–23.9 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%10.9–16.6 | 12.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.2%8.4–12.1 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.1–7.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.3%6.2–8.5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.4%12.4–18.7 | 12.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.9%31.1–40.6 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.5%14.8–20.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%12.8–17 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.7–6.4 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.4–11.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 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 Niagara
Is Niagara a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Niagara is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Niagara?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 45.4%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Niagara?
Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Niagara’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Niagara have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–10.3%), 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 Niagara 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 Niagara.
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.