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Tower AvenuePhoto: Nfarmakes · CC BY-SA 4.0
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Superior · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Superior is healthier than 13%

On every measure CDC estimates, Superior looks like Wisconsin as a whole.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54880, 54836. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Superior

Superior trails towns with similar incomes

Superior is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns, and only 13% of the 5,994 towns with similar household incomes ($89K–$148K), so income alone doesn’t explain its grade. Health Grade ↓

Superior is an older town

25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Conditions like heart disease and arthritis become more common with age, so keep that in mind when comparing Superior with the state. Conditions ↓

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 Superior’s likely range; Superior’s figures come from ZIP codes 54880, 54836, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Superior’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Superior is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 64% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 15%).

BSelf-rated health17.8% · WI 17.8% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.6% · WI 12.9% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress16.8% · WI 15.5% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity41.1% · WI 37.7% · U.S. 32.9%
BDiabetes11.3% · WI 11.4% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking14.8% smoke · WI 13.6% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise27.4% · WI 26.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 49%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $89K–$148K (5,994)Healthier than 13%

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). Superior’s median household income is $118,194; among the 5,994 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($89K–$148K), it’s healthier than 13%, less than its income alone would suggest.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Superior could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 54880,54836), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Superior adults…

On every condition, Superior is about the same as Wisconsin. Tap one to see it as people.

35 of every 100 Superior adults have high blood pressure
Wisconsin: 33 in 100 · about the same · likely 30.6–38.4%
Better than WIWorseAbout the sameWisconsin
Why age matters here

Superior is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Superior as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Superior25%
Wisconsin19%
Getting care

Care in and near Superior

No hospital or community health center in Superior itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERSt. Marys Hospital SuperiorSuperior · 8.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyEssentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center★★★★★ · 14.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLake Superior Community Health CenterSuperior · 9.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
8.3 mi
St. Marys Hospital Superior
Superior · not rated
ERRural critical access
9.8 mi
Lake Superior Community Health Center
5 sites · nearest in Superior
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
14.7 mi
Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center
Duluth · ★★★★★
ER
14.8 mi
Essentia Health Duluth
Duluth · not rated
15.1 mi
St. Lukes Hospital
Duluth · ★★★★★
ER
17.2 mi
Lakes Community Health Center, Inc the
3 sites · nearest in Poplar
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careSuperior is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careSuperior is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Superior itself

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 Superior; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin

Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.

Get no exercise 27.4%WI 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.3%WI 32.6%
Binge drink 18.9%WI 19%
Smoke cigarettes 14.8%WI 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Superior, betterSuperior, worseAbout the sameWisconsin
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Superior adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.

77%Yearly checkupWI 78%
65%Dentist visitWI 67%
85%Cholesterol checkWI 86%
69%Colon screeningWI 69%
79%MammogramWI 80%
77%Taking BP medsWI 78%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Superior 7.3% · Wisconsin 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Superior adults are doing

About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.

3 in 10Superior adults feel lonely
30.5% · WI 30.6% · About the same as WI
1 in 5Superior adults lack social or emotional support
19.4% · WI 20.2% · About the same as WI
1 in 4Superior adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.6% · WI 23.2% · About the same as WI
1 in 6Superior adults are in frequent mental distress
16.8% · WI 15.5% · About the same as WI
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Superior adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Superior adults worry about having enough food
12.1% · WI 12.1%
About the same as WI
1 in 11
Superior adults worry about keeping their housing
9.4% · WI 9.7%
About the same as WI
1 in 18
Superior adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.6% · WI 5.5%
About the same as WI
1 in 14
Superior adults lack reliable transportation
6.9% · WI 6.7%
About the same as WI

13% of Superior adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.

Around town

Superior and the towns around it

Superior’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 graded towns around it.

Duluth: 35.1%Oliver: 40.2%Summit: 41.3%Superior: 39.2%Parkland: 40.8%Superior: 41%Oakland: 40.8%Silver Brook Township: 38%Twin Lakes Township: 37.4%Hermantown: 33.2%Rice Lake: 35.4%Midway Township: 34.9%Proctor: 34.8%Lakewood Township: 32.8%Canosia Township: 33.2%Gordon: 41.4%Holyoke Township: 38.3%Dairyland: 39%Nickerson Township: 39.4%Amnicon: 41.1%Bennett: 40.7%Hawthorne: 41.1%Wrenshall: 37.3%Wrenshall Township: 38%Thomson Township: 35.7%Carlton: 35.6%Cloquet: 39.1%Blackhoof Township: 38.1%Atkinson Township: 38%Superior: 41.1%SuperiorDuluthOliverSummitSuperiorParklandSuperiorOaklandSilver Brook TownshipTwin Lakes TownshipSt. Marys Hospital Superior · Superior · 8.3 miHEssentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center · Duluth · 14.7 mi · 4★ MedicareHEssentia Health Duluth · Duluth · 14.8 miHSt. Lukes Hospital · Duluth · 15.1 mi · 3★ MedicareHLschc Superior Clinic · Superior · 9.8 mi+Northlakes - Poplar · Poplar · 17.2 mi+
Healthier than WINear WILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#26 of 30 towns on this map, healthiest first
Duluth35.1%
Twin Lakes Township37.4%
Silver Brook Township38%
Superior39.2%
Oliver40.2%
Parkland40.8%
Oakland40.8%
Superior41%
Superior41.1%
Summit41.3%
WI37.7%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
SuperiorB−41.1%11.3%14.8%ZIP codes
SummitB−41.3%12.7%14.6%ZIP codes
Oliver————
Parkland · OaklandB40.8%11.5%14.4%ZIP codes
Superior————
SuperiorB−41%10.8%14.9%CDC place

Oliver and Superior: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

31.2%

of Superior adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.7%
Thinking or memory13.8%
Hearing7.5%
Errands alone8.4%
Vision4.5%
Dressing or bathing3.6%
Wisconsin

Every CDC estimate for Superior

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Superior is better than Wisconsin on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Superior’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…SuperiorWIU.S.vs WI
Overall health
Fair or poor health17.8%15.6–20.417.8%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.6%12–15.412.9%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.8%14.9–18.915.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity41.1%34–48.237.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.3%9.8–1311.4%12%About the same
High blood pressure34.5%30.6–38.433.3%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.1%31.2–39.334.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis27.3%24.2–30.526.6%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.2%9.9–12.610.8%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.8%7.9–9.68.6%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6.8%6.2–7.76.6%6.4%About the same
COPD6.9%6.1–7.86.5%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.4%3.2–3.73.4%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.1%9.1–13.59.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14.8%12.7–1713.6%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work27.4%23.3–31.926.6%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.9%15.8–22.419%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.3%28.8–40.432.6%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.3%6.1–8.68%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year77.4%73.6–80.777.6%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.9%61.7–68.367.1%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.2%83.3–86.985.9%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77.4%74.5–80.177.8%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.9%64.6–73.369.4%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.7%72.3–84.680.3%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.6%21.1–28.423.2%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.5%26–35.130.6%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support19.4%16.4–22.320.2%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.1%10.2–13.912.1%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing9.4%8–10.79.7%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.6%4.9–6.45.5%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation6.9%6–7.76.7%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)13%11.1–14.812.5%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability31.2%27.3–35.529.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.7%11.9–15.613.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.8%12.2–15.512.8%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.5%6.7–8.46.9%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.5%4.1–4.94.5%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.4%7.5–9.47.9%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.6%3.3–43.5%3.8%About the same

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 Superior

Is Superior a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Superior is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Superior?

CDC estimates 41.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 34% and 48.2%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Superior?

St. Marys Hospital Superior in Superior, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Superior’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Superior have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–8.6%), 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 Superior more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Superior.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.