On CDC estimates, Wales is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Wales differs from Wisconsin on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wales. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wales
Wales is an active town
Only 18.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. Habits ↓
Wales keeps up with checkups
It beats Wisconsin on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (76.4% vs 67.1%) and cholesterol checks (89.4% vs 85.9%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Wales adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Wisconsin. 1 in 16 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Wales’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Wales’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wales is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #22 of 357 in Wisconsin. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 95% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 69%.
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). Wales’ median household income is $109,024; among the 7,286 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($82K–$136K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Wisconsin
Share of adults, with the Wisconsin figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Wales 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.
5.9% of Wales adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Out of every 100 Wales adults…
Wales runs below WI on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Wales
No hospital or community health center in Wales 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 Wales; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Wales adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Wales does better than Wisconsin.
3 in 10 Wales 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.
Wales 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 Wales adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wales
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wales is better than Wisconsin on 19 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Wales’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wales | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.5%10.6–14.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.6–12.6 | 12.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.2–14.7 | 15.5% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.4%29.2–38 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 11.4% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29.5–35.6 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%32.2–38.4 | 34.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.9%23.5–28.6 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5–6.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4–5.6 | 6.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.4%4.5–6.8 | 9.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.9%7.9–12.2 | 13.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.9%15.9–22.3 | 26.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.9%19–25 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.6%27.4–35.2 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.9%3.9–6 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.8–82.1 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.4%74.3–79.2 | 67.1% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.4%87.9–90.8 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.1–80.7 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.5%71.6–78.3 | 69.4% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 83.4%79.5–88 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.7%18.1–23.4 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.1%24.6–31.7 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 15.7%13.4–18.1 | 20.2% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.4%5.1–8 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6%4.9–7.3 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.4%2.8–4.1 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.1%3.5–4.9 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.9%4.6–7.4 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.1%21–27.5 | 29.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%8.6–11.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.8%8.4–11.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.5%4.8–6.4 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.1–2.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Wales
Is Wales a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wales is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #22 of 357 in Wisconsin. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wales?
CDC estimates 33.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 38%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wales?
Waukesha Memorial Hospital in Waukesha, 6.5 miles in a straight line from Wales’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wales have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–6%), 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 Wales more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wales.
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.