Health · Spencer

Spencer, WI health

On most measures Spencer looks like Wisconsin as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (13.5% vs 9.9%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Spencer
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Spencer’s Health Grade: B−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Spencer is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns.

B-Self-rated healthB-Physical distressB+Mental distressC+ObesityB+DiabetesCSmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 48%
Less healthyHealthier
Wisconsin towns we grade (877)Healthier than 35%
Towns with similar incomes, $52K–$87K (9,616)Healthier than 61%

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

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Spencer 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 Spencer 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. Spencer uses CDC’s own estimate for it. 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 Spencer 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 Spencer adults…

34 of every 100 Spencer adults have high blood pressure
Wisconsin: 33 in 100 · too close to call · margin 30.6–37.1%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Spencer, betterSpencer, worseToo close to callWisconsin
Get no exerciseshare of adults 29.6% Spencer
WI 26.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 30.7% Spencer
WI 32.6%
Binge drinkshare of adults 19.5% Spencer
WI 19%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 16.4% Spencer
WI 13.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

76%
Yearly checkup
WI 78%
67%
Dentist visit
WI 67%
85%
Cholesterol check
WI 86%
67%
Colon screening
WI 69%
77%
Mammogram
WI 80%
76%
Taking BP meds
WI 78%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Spencer 9% · Wisconsin 1 in 13 (8%)
Mind & connection

How Spencer adults are doing

1 in 3Spencer adults feel lonely
30% · Wisconsin 30.6% · too close to call
1 in 4Spencer adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.6% · Wisconsin 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 5Spencer adults lack social or emotional support
21.3% · Wisconsin 20.2% · too close to call
1 in 6Spencer adults are in frequent mental distress
16.2% · Wisconsin 15.5% · too close to call
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
Spencer adults worry about having enough food
12.3% · WI 12.1% · about the same
1 in 10
Spencer adults worry about keeping their housing
9.8% · WI 9.7% · about the same
1 in 19
Spencer adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.2% · WI 5.5% · about the same
1 in 15
Spencer adults lack reliable transportation
6.6% · WI 6.7% · about the same

12.8% of Spencer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.5% across Wisconsin.

Disability

Living with a disability

32%

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

Walking or climbing stairs14.1%
Thinking or memory14.2%
Hearing7.5%
Errands alone8.6%
Vision4.5%
Dressing or bathing3.7%

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

Around Spencer

Spencer 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 Spencer.

Spencer: 37.9% Sherman: 37.4% Marshfield: 38.5% McMillan: 38.3% Lincoln: 38.5% Brighton: 37.3% Fremont: 39.6% Unity: 37.3% Loyal: 37.4% Spencer: 37.3% Spencer Spencer Sherman Marshfield Medical Center · Marshfield · 7.9 mi · 1★ MedicareH Family Health Center - Marshfield Primary Care Center · Marshfield · 8.7 mi+
37.3%39.6%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#1 of 10towns on this map, healthiest first
Spencer37.3%
Sherman37.4%
Spencer37.9%
6 places to get careNearest ER 7.9 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 Spencer

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

HNearest ERMarshfield Medical CenterMarshfield · 7.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost careFamily Health Center of MarshfieldMarshfield · 8.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.9 mi
Marshfield Medical Center
Marshfield · ★★★★★
ER
8.7 mi
Family Health Center of Marshfield
5 sites · nearest in Marshfield
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.3 mi
Marshfield Medical Center - Neillsville
Neillsville · not rated
ERRural critical access
26.5 mi
Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics
Medford · not rated
ERRural critical access
33.5 mi
Aspirus Stanley Hospital
Stanley · not rated
ERRural critical access
35.9 mi
Primary Connection Healthcare
2 sites · nearest in Wausau
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careSpencer is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careSpencer is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthSpencer is not a shortage area

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 Spencer. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

All 40 measures for Spencer
MeasureSpencerMarginWisconsin
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure33.8%30.6–37.1%33.3%about the same
High cholesterol36.5%33.2–39.8%34.4%about the same
Obesity37.3%32.5–42.2%37.7%about the same
Arthritis27.3%24.6–30.1%26.6%about the same
Depression25.6%22.5–28.8%23.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)13.5%10.9–16.2%9.9%worse
Asthma10.8%9.6–12.2%10.8%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.8%8–9.9%8.6%about the same
Diabetes10.5%9.1–12.1%11.4%about the same
COPD7.3%6–8.7%6.5%about the same
Heart disease6.9%6–7.9%6.6%about the same
Stroke3.5%3–4%3.4%about the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.4%13.3–19.7%13.6%about the same
Binge drink19.5%16.9–22.6%19%about the same
Get no exercise29.6%25–34.2%26.6%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours30.7%26.6–34.9%32.6%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup75.8%72.6–79%77.6%about the same
Dentist visit66.5%63.2–69.4%67.1%about the same
Cholesterol check85.2%82.9–87.5%85.9%about the same
Colon screening67.4%62.9–71.3%69.4%about the same
Mammogram77.1%70.6–82.3%80.3%about the same
Taking BP meds76.3%73.5–79%77.8%about the same
No health insurance9%6.8–11.7%8%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely30%25.8–34%30.6%about the same
Lack emotional support21.3%17.9–24.5%20.2%about the same
Frequent mental distress16.2%14.1–18.2%15.5%about the same
Fair or poor health19.6%16.4–23%17.8%about the same
Frequent physical distress14.2%12.2–16.2%12.9%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity12.3%9.5–15.3%12.1%about the same
Housing insecurity9.8%7.8–11.9%9.7%about the same
Utility shut-off threat5.2%4.3–6.2%5.5%about the same
No reliable transportation6.6%5.4–7.8%6.7%about the same
Receive SNAP12.8%9.7–16.1%12.5%
Disability
Any disability32%27.7–36.2%29.4%
Walking or climbing stairs14.1%11.8–16.7%13.4%
Thinking or memory14.2%12–16.4%12.8%
Hearing7.5%6.6–8.5%6.9%
Vision4.5%3.8–5.3%4.5%
Dressing or bathing3.7%3.1–4.4%3.5%
Errands alone8.6%7.3–10.1%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 Spencer door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Wisconsin figure falls inside it, we don't call Spencer better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Spencer directly, so these are its own figures.

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/18 · 2025-01-01