Where Rusk residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Rusk, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54728, 54895. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rusk
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Rusk
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.8%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.8%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Cancer is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 8.6% across Wisconsin. In all, Rusk runs above Wisconsin on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Rusk, and more people treating it
38.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Wisconsin 33.3%), but 81.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Rusk’s likely range; Rusk’s figures come from ZIP codes 54728, 54895, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Rusk adults…
Rusk runs above WI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Rusk is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Rusk as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rusk adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Care in and near Rusk
No hospital or community health center in Rusk 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 Rusk; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Rusk adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Rusk 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.
12.8% of Rusk adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Rusk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bend | — | — | — | — | |
| Chetek | C+ | 38.3% | 13.4% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
| Sampson | — | — | — | — | |
| Strickland | — | — | — | — |
Big Bend, Sampson and Strickland: 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 Rusk adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Rusk
Why doesn’t Rusk have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Rusk.
What hospital is closest to Rusk?
Mayo Clinic Health System Chippewa Valley in Bloomer, 15.2 miles in a straight line from Rusk’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rusk.
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. 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.