Photo: Kenwkoun · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Stephenson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns
Stephenson differs from Wisconsin on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54114, 54104. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Stephenson
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Stephenson
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.5%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 5.1%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Stephenson runs above Wisconsin on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 40% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
In Stephenson, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 7.8% of working-age adults are uninsured (Wisconsin 8%), yet 22.3% say their health is fair or poor, vs 17.8% across the state. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Stephenson, and more people treating it
42.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Wisconsin 33.3%), but 83.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 26 miles from Stephenson
The closest emergency room is HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, 26.1 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Lakes Community Health Center, Inc the is closer (19.3 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Stephenson is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Stephenson is healthier than 26%. Against the 7,893 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 46%. 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 Stephenson’s likely range; Stephenson’s figures come from ZIP codes 54114, 54104, 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 Stephenson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stephenson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #331 of 357 in Wisconsin. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 84% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Stephenson’s median household income is $56,550; among the 7,893 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$71K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.
Most Wisconsin towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Stephenson is healthier than 7% of graded towns, against 26% nationally.
Where Stephenson compares well: checkup in the past year, 81.3% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 89% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 83.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Stephenson adults…
Stephenson runs above WI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Stephenson is an older town: 40% 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 Stephenson as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Stephenson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Care in and near Stephenson
No hospital or community health center in Stephenson 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 Stephenson; ≈ 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.
141 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
How Stephenson adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Stephenson 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.
14.1% of Stephenson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Stephenson and the towns around it
Stephenson’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephenson | C | 38.9% | 16.1% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
| Beaver | C | 40% | 14.8% | 17% | ZIP codes |
| Middle Inlet | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake | C+ | 38% | 14.7% | 16% | ZIP codes |
| Lakewood | — | — | — | — | |
| Athelstane | — | — | — | — | |
| Silver Cliff | — | — | — | — | |
| Riverview | — | — | — | — |
Middle Inlet, Lakewood, Athelstane, Silver Cliff and Riverview: 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 Stephenson adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Stephenson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Stephenson is better than Wisconsin on 4 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Stephenson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Stephenson | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%19.6–25.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.7–18.4 | 12.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%13.1–16.4 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%32.6–45.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%14.2–18.2 | 11.4% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.8%38.9–46.7 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42%38–46.1 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.4%33.1–39.8 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.3%11.2–13.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.5%9.5–11.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%9–11.4 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11.1–16 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.6–19.5 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.9%28.5–37.5 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%13.1–18.4 | 19% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.3%25.8–37.1 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.4–9.2 | 8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.4–84.1 | 77.6% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64%60.6–67.4 | 67.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%87.5–90.3 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.9%81.5–86 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.8%67.2–76 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%69.4–82.7 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.5–25.8 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.1%24.1–32.4 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%17.1–23.1 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.6%10.7–14.9 | 12.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.6–10.4 | 9.7% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.5–6.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.5%5.7–7.5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.1%12–16.6 | 12.5% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%33.3–41.7 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.7%17.4–22.2 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%12–15.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.7–12.1 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.5–10.7 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 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 Stephenson
Is Stephenson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stephenson is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #331 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Stephenson?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.6% and 45.4%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Stephenson?
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, 26.1 miles in a straight line from Stephenson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Stephenson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.2%), 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 Stephenson 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 Stephenson.
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.