Photo: self · CC BY-SA 2.5Within Wisconsin, Oshkosh is healthier than 21% of graded towns
Oshkosh differs from Wisconsin on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oshkosh. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oshkosh
Oshkosh is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Oshkosh is healthier than 45%. Against the 9,466 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 67%. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Oshkosh
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.7%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. No reliable transportation (8.9% vs 6.7%) and utility shut-off threats (6.7% vs 5.5%) are higher too. 16.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Oshkosh has a top-rated hospital
Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Oshkosh’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Oshkosh’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oshkosh is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns, #284 of 357 in Wisconsin. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 73% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 16%).
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). Oshkosh’s median household income is $62,188; among the 9,466 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 67%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.3% of Oshkosh adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near Oshkosh
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Oshkosh, 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 Oshkosh; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Oshkosh adults…
Oshkosh runs below WI on 1 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.
10 miles of trails across 38 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Oshkosh adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Oshkosh adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Oshkosh runs above Wisconsin.
1 in 3 Oshkosh 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.
Oshkosh and the towns around it
Oshkosh’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh | B− | 40.8% | 10.6% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Oshkosh | B | 39.4% | 10.6% | 13.6% | ZIP codes |
| Black Wolf | C+ | 41.1% | 12.1% | 15.4% | ZIP 54902 |
| Nekimi | B | 39.4% | 11.4% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
| Algoma | B+ | 38.1% | 11% | 11.9% | ZIP 54904 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oshkosh adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oshkosh
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oshkosh is better than Wisconsin on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Oshkosh’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oshkosh | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.9%16.9–21.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.5–14.3 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%16.1–19.8 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.8%35.7–46 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.1%28.2–34.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.2%29.2–35.3 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.2%22.9–27.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.8–8.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.4–6.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.7%8.7–13 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%13.4–17.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.5%26–33.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.5%18.5–24.9 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%28.2–38 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.7–10.3 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.8%73.4–79.8 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.4%60.1–66.5 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81%79–83 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.3%71.6–76.8 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70%65.8–74 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.9%74.9–86.1 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%21.5–27.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27.1–35.2 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%18.5–24.4 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.8–16.9 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10.2–13.4 | 9.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.8–10 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.3%14.3–18.5 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1%27.8–34.6 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.1%11.7–14.6 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%14–17.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.6–5.5 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.5–10.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Oshkosh
Is Oshkosh a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oshkosh is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #284 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Oshkosh?
CDC estimates 40.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.7% and 46%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oshkosh?
Aurora Medical Ctr Oshkosh in Oshkosh, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Oshkosh’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oshkosh have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–10.3%), 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 Oshkosh more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oshkosh.
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.