Old Indian Agency House (Boundary Increase) · Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Wisconsin, Portage is healthier than 19% of graded towns
Portage trails Wisconsin on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Portage. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Portage
Portage is behind on routine checkups
It trails Wisconsin on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (73.5% vs 77.6%), dentist visits (61.4% vs 67.1%), cholesterol checks (82.8% vs 85.9%) and colon screening (63.1% vs 69.4%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Portage
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.9%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. Utility shut-off threats (6.9% vs 5.5%) and housing insecurity (11.9% vs 9.7%) are higher too. 16.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Smoking is more common in Portage
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17%), vs 13.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
Portage is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Portage is healthier than 44%. Against the 9,884 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 62%. 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 Portage’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Portage’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portage is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #289 of 357 in Wisconsin. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 63% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 26%).
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). Portage’s median household income is $64,722; among the 9,884 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Portage adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
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 Portage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
1.9 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Portage adults…
Portage runs above WI on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Portage
1 hospital in Portage, 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 Portage; ≈ 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).
How Portage adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Portage runs above Wisconsin.
1 in 3 Portage 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.
Portage and the towns around it
Portage’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage | C+ | 35.5% | 11.2% | 17% | CDC place |
| Fort Winnebago | — | — | — | — | |
| Pacific | B− | 34.7% | 11.8% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Lewiston | B− | 35.9% | 12% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
| Caledonia | B− | 36.2% | 12.1% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
Fort Winnebago: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Portage adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Portage
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Portage is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Portage’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Portage | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%17.1–22.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.5–16 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.6–19.5 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.5%28.7–42.1 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.8%28.2–35.3 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.8%28.1–35.5 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.8%23–28.5 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.2%13.3–19.5 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17%14.6–19.6 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.3%25.1–33.9 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.9%16.7–23.5 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%28.8–41.2 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.2–11.7 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.5%69.8–77.2 | 77.6% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.4%57.8–64.9 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.7–84.8 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%73–78.4 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.1%58–68 | 69.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.1–82.3 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.2%20.8–27.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%28.1–37.4 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18.3–24.7 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.9%12.5–17.3 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.1–13.8 | 9.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.9–7.9 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.1–9.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.3%13.7–18.8 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.4%28.4–36.6 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.4%12.6–16.5 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.5–17.2 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.5–8.1 | 6.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.8 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.5 | 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 Portage
Is Portage a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portage is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #289 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Portage?
CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 42.1%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Portage?
Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Portage’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Portage have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.7%), 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 Portage 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 Portage.
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.