Where Backus Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Backus Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 48651, 48656. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Backus Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Backus Township
1 in 7 adults have COPD (14.4%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (11.8%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 5.8%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Backus Township runs above Michigan on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Backus Township
61.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 17.1% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
More Backus Township adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (32.3%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 68 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
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 Backus Township’s likely range; Backus Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 48651, 48656, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Backus Township adults…
Backus Township runs above MI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Backus Township is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Backus Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Backus Township 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.
68 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Backus Township
No hospital or community health center in Backus Township 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 Backus Township; ≈ 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 Backus Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Backus Township 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.
19.5% of Backus Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Backus Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higgins Township | C− | 38.9% | 15.5% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
| Denton Township | C− | 40.1% | 16.3% | 18% | ZIP codes |
| Richfield Township | D | 42.9% | 18% | 21.8% | ZIP 48656 |
| Nester Township | — | — | — | — |
Nester Township: 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 Backus Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Backus Township
Why doesn’t Backus Township have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Backus Township.
What hospital is closest to Backus Township?
Mymichigan Medical Center West Branch in West Branch, 15.2 miles in a straight line from Backus Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Backus Township.
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. 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.