Health · Boulder Junction

Boulder Junction, WI health

Boulder Junction differs from Wisconsin on 24 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing housing insecurity (5.6% vs 9.7%) and fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (3.5% vs 5.5%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (14.5% vs 8.6%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 54512, 54545
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Boulder Junction’s Health Grade: B

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Boulder Junction is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns and 53% of Wisconsin towns.

B+Self-rated healthB-Physical distressA+Mental distressB-ObesityC-DiabetesB+SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 57%
Less healthyHealthier
Wisconsin towns we grade (877)Healthier than 53%
Towns with similar incomes, $56K–$94K (9,885)Healthier than 66%

About what its income would suggest. Boulder Junction does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Boulder Junction could be anywhere from C to A−.
How the Health Grade works
  • Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Wisconsin ranking.
  • Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Boulder Junction with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
  • Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Boulder Junction’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card

How Boulder Junction compares with Wisconsin

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Boulder Junction adults…

45 of every 100 Boulder Junction adults have high blood pressure
Wisconsin: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 40.6–48.9%

Bars show Boulder Junction; the black tick is Wisconsin. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Boulder Junction, betterBoulder Junction, worseToo close to callWisconsin
Get no exerciseshare of adults 27.6% Boulder Junction
WI 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 24.9% Boulder Junction
WI 32.6%
Binge drinkshare of adults 14.5% Boulder Junction
WI 19%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 11.9% Boulder Junction
WI 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

84%
Yearly checkup
WI 78%
73%
Dentist visit
WI 67%
93%
Cholesterol check
WI 86%
77%
Colon screening
WI 69%
81%
Mammogram
WI 80%
85%
Taking BP meds
WI 78%
1 in 19
working-age adults has no health insurance
Boulder Junction 5.2% · Wisconsin 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Boulder Junction adults are doing

1 in 4Boulder Junction adults feel lonely
25.7% · Wisconsin 30.6% · better
1 in 5Boulder Junction adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.7% · Wisconsin 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 6Boulder Junction adults lack social or emotional support
16.4% · Wisconsin 20.2% · better
1 in 9Boulder Junction adults are in frequent mental distress
11.6% · Wisconsin 15.5% · better
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 13
Boulder Junction adults worry about having enough food
7.8% · WI 12.1% · better
1 in 18
Boulder Junction adults worry about keeping their housing
5.6% · WI 9.7% · better
1 in 29
Boulder Junction adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
3.5% · WI 5.5% · better
1 in 23
Boulder Junction adults lack reliable transportation
4.4% · WI 6.7% · better

8.3% of Boulder Junction adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.

Disability

Living with a disability

32.1%

of Boulder Junction adults live with a disability (Wisconsin 29.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.9%
Thinking or memory9.9%
Hearing10.5%
Errands alone7.5%
Vision4.6%
Dressing or bathing3.9%

Black tick: Wisconsin. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Boulder Junction

Boulder Junction and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Boulder Junction.

Presque Isle: 36% Arbor Vitae: 36.1% Manitowish Waters: 36.7% Lac du Flambeau: 41.6% Plum Lake: 36.2% Land O'Lakes: 36.7% Winchester: 36.1% Marenisco: 36.6% Bessemer: 37.1% Woodruff: 35.8% St. Germain: 37% Mercer: 34.7% Sherman: 41.8% Minocqua: 36.2% Fifield: 42.1% Conover: 37.6% Cloverland: 37.4% Watersmeet: 35.6% Phelps: 37.9% Boulder Junction: 36.6% Boulder Junction Presque Isle Arbor Vitae Manitowish Waters Lac du Flambeau Plum Lake Land O'Lakes Howard Young Medical Center · Woodruff · 13.8 mi · 4★ MedicareH Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua · Minocqua · 14.2 mi · 5★ MedicareH Aspirus Eagle River Hospital · Eagle River · 23.8 miH Aspirus Ironwood Hospital · Ironwood · 33.5 miH Family Health Center - Minocqua Alcohol & Drug Recovery Center · Minocqua · 14.4 mi+ Northlakes - Hurley · Hurley · 34.3 mi+
34.7%42.1%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#9 of 20towns on this map, healthiest first
Presque Isle36%
Arbor Vitae36.1%
Plum Lake36.2%
Boulder Junction36.6%
Manitowish Waters36.7%
Land O'Lakes36.7%
Lac du Flambeau41.6%
6 places to get careNearest ER 13.8 mi

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

Getting care

Care in and near Boulder Junction

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

HNearest ERHoward Young Medical CenterWoodruff · 13.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMarshfield Medical Center - Minocqua★★★★★ · 14.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careFamily Health Center of MarshfieldMinocqua · 14.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.8 mi
Howard Young Medical Center
Woodruff · ★★★★★
ER
14.2 mi
Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua
Minocqua · ★★★★★
ER
14.4 mi
Family Health Center of Marshfield
5 sites · nearest in Minocqua
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
23.8 mi
Aspirus Eagle River Hospital
Eagle River · not rated
ERRural critical access
33.5 mi
Aspirus Ironwood Hospital
Ironwood · not rated
ERRural critical access
34.3 mi
Lakes Community Health Center, Inc the
2 sites · nearest in Hurley
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
! Primary careBoulder Junction's county is a federal shortage area.Vilas County · need score 12 of 25
✓ Dental careBoulder Junction is not a shortage area
! Mental healthBoulder Junction's county is a federal shortage area.Vilas County · need score 16 of 25

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 Boulder Junction. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Boulder Junction
MeasureBoulder JunctionMarginWisconsin
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure44.7%40.6–48.9%33.3%worse
High cholesterol44.9%40.6–49.4%34.4%worse
Obesity36.6%30.5–42.8%37.7%about the same
Arthritis37.8%34–41.6%26.6%worse
Depression20.7%17.7–23.8%23.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)7.8%6.1–9.6%9.9%better
Asthma10.2%9–11.5%10.8%about the same
Cancer (not skin)14.5%13.2–16%8.6%worse
Diabetes14.3%12.3–16.4%11.4%worse
COPD8.4%7.1–9.9%6.5%worse
Heart disease10.4%9.2–11.6%6.6%worse
Stroke4.7%4.2–5.3%3.4%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11.9%9.7–14.4%13.6%about the same
Binge drink14.5%12–17.4%19%better
Get no exercise27.6%23.4–32.2%26.6%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours24.9%20.3–29.9%32.6%better
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup83.5%80.7–86.1%77.6%better
Dentist visit72.5%69.3–75.5%67.1%better
Cholesterol check92.6%91.5–93.6%85.9%better
Colon screening77.4%73.4–81.2%69.4%better
Mammogram80.7%74.4–86%80.3%about the same
Taking BP meds85.3%82.7–87.8%77.8%better
No health insurance5.2%4.1–6.4%8%better
Mind & connection
Feel lonely25.7%21.7–30.2%30.6%better
Lack emotional support16.4%13.7–19.5%20.2%better
Frequent mental distress11.6%10.1–13.1%15.5%better
Fair or poor health17.7%15.1–20.7%17.8%about the same
Frequent physical distress14.4%12.6–16.4%12.9%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity7.8%6.2–9.7%12.1%better
Housing insecurity5.6%4.6–6.8%9.7%better
Utility shut-off threat3.5%2.9–4.1%5.5%better
No reliable transportation4.4%3.8–5.2%6.7%better
Receive SNAP8.3%6.6–10.4%12.5%
Disability
Any disability32.1%28.1–36.4%29.4%
Walking or climbing stairs16.9%14.5–19.6%13.4%
Thinking or memory9.9%8.6–11.5%12.8%
Hearing10.5%9.3–11.7%6.9%
Vision4.6%4–5.2%4.5%
Dressing or bathing3.9%3.4–4.5%3.5%
Errands alone7.5%6.5–8.7%7.9%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Boulder Junction door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Wisconsin figure falls inside it, we don't call Boulder Junction better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Boulder Junction by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Boulder Junction by how much of its land each one covers.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Wisconsin figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01