Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Alpena is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Alpena trails Michigan on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alpena. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alpena
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Alpena
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Alpena runs above Michigan on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Alpena
62% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 15.1% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
More Alpena adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. Habits ↓
Alpena is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Alpena is healthier than 12%. Against the 4,855 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 34%. Health Grade ↓
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 Michigan figure falls outside Alpena’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Alpena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alpena is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #653 of 701 in Michigan. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 23% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Alpena’s median household income is $47,545; among the 4,855 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Alpena adults…
Alpena runs above MI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Alpena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
3.9 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Care in and near Alpena
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Alpena, 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 Alpena; ≈ 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).
How Alpena adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Alpena 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.
19.3% of Alpena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Alpena and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena | D | 41.9% | 14.2% | 19.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alpena adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alpena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alpena is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Alpena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alpena | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.8%20.9–27 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.3–19.5 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.2–21.7 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.9%33.5–50.7 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.2–16.2 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.1%36.6–45.5 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%33.8–42.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.9%32.2–39.6 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%11–13.9 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.8–11.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.1%12.3–18.3 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.1%16.5–21.9 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30%25.3–34.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.3%12.5–18.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%27.7–41.6 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.8%77.3–83.8 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.2–65.8 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.3–87.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.7–81.9 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%62.9–72.9 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%63.9–80.2 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29%25–33.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%27–37.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%18.8–25.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.9%15.3–20.6 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.4%10.6–14.3 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.3%16.7–22.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%34.2–43.5 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.2%16.8–21.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.4–19.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%9.1–11.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.2–12.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Michigan figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alpena
Is Alpena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alpena is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #653 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alpena?
CDC estimates 41.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.5% and 50.7%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alpena?
Mymichigan Medical Center Alpena in Alpena, 0.3 miles in a straight line from Alpena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alpena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.5–9.2%), against 6.9% across Michigan.
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 Alpena more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alpena.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Michigan 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.