Flambeau Mission Church · Photo: Jeff the quiet · CC0Where Washington residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Washington, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 54819, 54745, 54848, 54731. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Washington
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Washington
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 6.5% across Wisconsin. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.7%), vs 6.6% across Wisconsin. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.4% across Wisconsin. In all, Washington runs above Wisconsin on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 40% of residents are 65 or older (Wisconsin 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
In Washington, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 8% of working-age adults are uninsured (Wisconsin 8%), yet 22.4% say their health is fair or poor, vs 17.8% across the state. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Washington, and more people treating it
40.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Wisconsin 33.3%), but 82.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Washington’s likely range; Washington’s figures come from ZIP codes 54819, 54745, 54848, 54731, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Washington adults…
Washington runs above WI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Washington 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 Washington as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Washington adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Wisconsin.
Care in and near Washington
No hospital or community health center in Washington 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 Washington; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Washington adults are doing
About the same as Wisconsin on each measure.
3 in 10 Washington 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.
15.1% of Washington adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.
Washington 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.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bend | — | — | — | — | |
| Thornapple | — | — | — | — | |
| Willard | — | — | — | — | |
| Birch Creek | — | — | — | — |
Big Bend, Thornapple, Willard and Birch Creek: 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 Washington adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Washington
Why doesn’t Washington have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Washington.
What hospital is closest to Washington?
Marshfield Medical Center - Ladysmith in Ladysmith, 10.4 miles in a straight line from Washington’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Washington.
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. 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.