On CDC estimates, Polar is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns
Polar trails Wisconsin on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54418, 54409. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Polar
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Polar
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Polar runs above Wisconsin on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Polar adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.9%), vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. There are 14 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Smoking is more common in Polar
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.9%), vs 13.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
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 Polar’s likely range; Polar’s figures come from ZIP codes 54418, 54409, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Polar’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Polar is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 61% of U.S. towns); no exercise 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). Polar’s median household income is $76,458; among the 10,813 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$96K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Polar adults…
Polar 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.
14 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Polar
No hospital or community health center in Polar 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 Polar; ≈ 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 Polar adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
How Polar adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Polar 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.
14.2% of Polar adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Polar 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polar | C | 37.1% | 13.2% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
| Antigo | C | 37.6% | 13.6% | 18.1% | ZIP 54409 |
| Evergreen | — | — | — | — | |
| Menominee | — | — | — | — | |
| Price | — | — | — | — | |
| Norwood | — | — | — | — | |
| Neva | — | — | — | — |
Evergreen, Price, Norwood and Neva: fewer than 1,000 residents. Menominee: no CDC estimate of its own. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Polar adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Polar
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Polar is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Polar’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Polar | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.7%17.9–23.7 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.6–17.4 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.4–18.4 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%30.5–43.9 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.2%11.4–15.1 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37%33–41 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.9%34.8–43 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.4–35.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.7 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.5–9.8 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.2%10–14.7 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.4–19.7 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.9%27.3–36.8 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.9–21.1 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%28.6–39.4 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%6.9–10 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.8–81.4 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.5%60.1–66.9 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.4–87.9 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%77.8–83 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%64.6–73.1 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.6%73.3–85 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.5%19.3–26 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%26.3–35.3 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.6%17.6–24 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%10.6–15.2 | 12.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8–11.2 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 5.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6–8 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.2%11.9–16.8 | 12.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.6%29.4–38.1 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.4–18.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.3%12.5–16.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 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 Polar
Is Polar a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Polar is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Polar?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 43.9%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Polar?
Langlade Hospital in Antigo, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Polar’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Polar have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–10%), 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 Polar 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 Polar.
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.