Photo: Travellers & Tinkers · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Washburn is healthier than 89%
Washburn differs from Wisconsin on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Washburn. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Washburn
Washburn is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Washburn is healthier than 66%. Against the 9,444 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Washburn
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.6% across Wisconsin. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.5%), vs 26.6% across Wisconsin. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. In all, Washburn runs above Wisconsin on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Washburn, and more people treating it
37.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Wisconsin 33.3%), but 81.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer Washburn adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Wisconsin. 1 in 11 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 Washburn’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Washburn’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Washburn is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 89% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 36%).
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). Washburn’s median household income is $62,128; among the 9,444 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Washburn adults…
Washburn runs above WI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Washburn is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Wisconsin. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Washburn as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Washburn 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.
9.2% of Washburn adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Care in and near Washburn
1 community health center in Washburn, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Washburn; ≈ 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.
4.9 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
How Washburn adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Washburn 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.
Washburn 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 Washburn adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Washburn
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Washburn is better than Wisconsin on 7 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Wisconsin figure falls inside Washburn’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Washburn | WI | U.S. | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.8%13.9–20.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.4–15.5 | 12.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.1–16 | 15.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.9%31.8–44.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.3–14.1 | 11.4% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.7%33.9–41.8 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.6%36.7–44.6 | 34.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.5%28.2–35 | 26.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.6–12.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.1–12.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.8%5.4–8.3 | 6.5% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8%6.4–9.9 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%9.4–14.8 | 13.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%20.7–30.3 | 26.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17%14.2–20 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.6%25–36.2 | 32.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%4.7–7.8 | 8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.7%76.4–82.8 | 77.6% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%66.8–73.3 | 67.1% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.3%87.7–90.8 | 85.9% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.6%78.9–84.1 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.7%68–76.9 | 69.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.2%74.6–86.4 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.3%20.1–26.8 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.3%23.9–33 | 30.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.9%14.9–21.2 | 20.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.8%6.8–11 | 12.1% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6–9 | 9.7% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.6–5.2 | 5.5% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.5–6.4 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.2%7–11.6 | 12.5% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%25.9–35 | 29.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%12–17.4 | 13.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.3%9.5–13.2 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 6.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.2%3.5–4.9 | 4.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.2–8.8 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.8–4.1 | 3.5% | 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 Washburn
Is Washburn a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Washburn is healthier than 66% 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 Washburn?
CDC estimates 37.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 44.3%, against 37.7% across Wisconsin and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Washburn?
Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center in Ashland, 7.6 miles in a straight line from Washburn’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Washburn have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–7.8%), 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 Washburn 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 Washburn.
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.