Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Russell is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns
Russell differs from Wisconsin on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 54814. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Russell
Diabetes, stroke and heart disease run high in Russell
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.6%), vs 11.4% across Wisconsin. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (4.9%), vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. In all, Russell runs above Wisconsin on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 26 miles from Russell
The closest emergency room is Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center in Ashland, 26.3 miles away in a straight line. And 10.5% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 6.7% across Wisconsin. For everyday care, Lakes Community Health Center, Inc the is closer (18.4 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Russell
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17.9%), vs 12.1% across Wisconsin. No reliable transportation (10.5% vs 6.7%) and utility shut-off threats (8.6% vs 5.5%) are higher too. 19.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 12.5% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More high blood pressure in Russell, and more people treating it
41.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Wisconsin 33.3%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Russell is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Russell is healthier than 15%. Against the 5,038 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 41%. 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 Russell’s likely range; Russell’s figures come from ZIP code 54814, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Russell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Russell is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 51% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Russell’s median household income is $48,068; among the 5,038 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Russell compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Russell adults…
Russell runs above WI on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Russell
No hospital or community health center in Russell 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 Russell; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
19.4% of Russell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Keeping up with care
Share of Russell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
23 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Russell adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Russell 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.
Russell 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Russell adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Russell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Russell is better than Wisconsin on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Russell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Russell | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%20.8–27 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.8–19 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.1–19.1 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.9%37.2–50.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.6%14.5–18.8 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.5%37.5–45.4 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%36.5–44.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.4%30.1–36.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.3–14.2 | 10.8% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–11 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.6–15.7 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15–20.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.2%26.6–35.8 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.7%13.1–18.5 | 19% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.3%29.2–41.3 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.2–9.5 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.2–82.4 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.6%58–65.2 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%84.9–88.3 | 85.9% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.3%78.8–83.6 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.5%64.6–73.9 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.8%71.8–84.5 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25%21.5–28.5 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.3%26–34.9 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%17.6–23.9 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.9%15–21 | 12.1% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.1–15.4 | 9.7% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.3–10 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.5%9.1–12 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.4%16.4–22.6 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6%33.2–42.1 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.3%16.8–21.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.8%13–16.8 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.9–11.2 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.7 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 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 Russell
Is Russell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Russell is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Russell?
CDC estimates 43.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 50.3%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Russell?
Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center in Ashland, 26.3 miles in a straight line from Russell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Russell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–9.5%), 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 Russell more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Russell.
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.