Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ottawa is healthier than 26%
Ottawa differs from Wisconsin on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 53118, 53066, 53119. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ottawa
Against towns with similar incomes, Ottawa’s lead shrinks
Ottawa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but 26% of the 2,556 towns with similar household incomes ($115K–$191K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Ottawa keeps up with checkups
It beats Wisconsin on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (80.6% vs 77.6%) and dentist visits (74.7% vs 67.1%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Ottawa
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.9%), vs 8.6% across Wisconsin. Conditions ↓
Fewer Ottawa adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Wisconsin. 1 in 14 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Ottawa’s likely range; Ottawa’s figures come from ZIP codes 53118, 53066, 53119, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Ottawa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ottawa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #81 of 357 in Wisconsin. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 94% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 63%.
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). Ottawa’s median household income is $153,018; among the 2,556 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($115K–$191K), it’s healthier than 26%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ottawa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Ottawa adults…
Ottawa runs below WI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7% of Ottawa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near Ottawa
No hospital or community health center in Ottawa 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 Ottawa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
37 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How Ottawa adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ottawa does better than Wisconsin.
3 in 10 Ottawa 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.
Ottawa and the towns around it
Ottawa’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | A− | 34.4% | 11.2% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| Dousman | A− | 32.2% | 10.7% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| North Prairie | A | 34% | 9.9% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Sullivan | B | 40.2% | 11.2% | 13.5% | ZIP codes |
| Genesee | A− | 34.6% | 10.4% | 11% | ZIP codes |
| Summit | A | 33.2% | 10.9% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Eagle | A− | 35.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ottawa adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ottawa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ottawa is better than Wisconsin on 16 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Ottawa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ottawa | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.6%12.8–16.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%11–14 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.6–14.6 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%30.5–38.6 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36%33.2–39 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%34.4–40.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.4%27.1–32.1 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.9–11.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7%6.3–7.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%3–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.5%6.4–9.4 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 22.1%19.2–25.2 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 19.8%17.3–22.6 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%27.4–34.7 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.4–6.3 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%78.1–83 | 77.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.7%72.7–77.4 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.7%88.4–90.9 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.9–82.7 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.3%71.6–77.9 | 69.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.6%80–88 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%18.3–23.2 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%25.2–31.6 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16.3%14.1–18.6 | 20.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%6–8.7 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.4%5.3–7.4 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.7%3.1–4.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%3.9–5.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7%5.8–8.2 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%24.9–31.1 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%11.2–14.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.6%9.4–12 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.2 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–4 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.4 | 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 Ottawa
Is Ottawa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ottawa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #81 of 357 in Wisconsin. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ottawa?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 38.6%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ottawa?
Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Ottawa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ottawa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–6.3%), 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 Ottawa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ottawa.
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.