Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Baraga is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns
Baraga differs from Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Baraga. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Baraga
Dental care lags in Baraga
52.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 19.2% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Baraga
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (28.3%), vs 15.4% across Michigan. Utility shut-off threats (17% vs 8.7%) and no reliable transportation (15.4% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 27.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Baraga adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (31.5%), vs 23.1% across Michigan. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 21%, vs 17.6% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Baraga is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Baraga is healthier than 11%. Against the 3,520 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 42%. 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 Baraga’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Baraga’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Baraga is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 34% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Baraga’s median household income is $43,558; among the 3,520 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 42%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Baraga compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 30.7% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Baraga adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.5% of Baraga adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
How Baraga adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Baraga runs above Michigan.
4 in 10 Baraga 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.
Out of every 100 Baraga adults…
Baraga runs below MI on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Baraga
No hospital or community health center in Baraga 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 Baraga; ≈ 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 Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Baraga and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraga | D | 44.9% | 13.1% | 21.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Baraga adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Baraga
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Baraga is better than Michigan on 3 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Baraga’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Baraga | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%22.2–29.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.8 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.5–23.5 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.9%36–53.8 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.1%11.4–15 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.9%33.3–42.2 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.7%26.7–34.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22–27.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12%10.7–13.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.4–6.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.8–10 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.2%15.7–23.1 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.9%18.6–25.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.8%24.7–35.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.6–21.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 44.2%36.9–51.7 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%8.2–14 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%72.3–80.3 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.3%48.5–56.2 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.7%77.7–83.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.7%65.4–72 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.3%54–64.3 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70%61–78 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.1–28.6 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.1%31.8–42.8 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.5%27.3–36.2 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.3%23.5–33.7 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.9%18.2–25.9 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 17%14.4–19.7 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.4%13.1–18.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.5%22.5–32.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%32.6–42.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.4–17.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19%16.5–21.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%9.7–12.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.4–5.6 | 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 Baraga
Is Baraga a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Baraga is healthier than 11% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 42%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Baraga?
CDC estimates 44.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 53.8%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Baraga?
Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L' Anse, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Baraga’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Baraga have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–14%), 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 Baraga more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Baraga.
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.