Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Bark River Township is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns
Bark River Township differs from Michigan on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49807. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bark River Township
Cancer and arthritis run high in Bark River Township
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (34.3%), vs 29.1% across Michigan. In all, Bark River Township runs above Michigan on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Bark River Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Michigan. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Bark River Township’s likely range; Bark River Township’s figures come from ZIP code 49807, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Bark River Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bark River Township is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 63% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 34%).
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). Bark River Township’s median household income is $69,375; among the 10,461 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 64%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Bark River Township adults…
Bark River Township runs above MI on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
10% of Bark River Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Care in and near Bark River Township
No hospital or community health center in Bark River 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 Bark River 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
36 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bark River Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Bark River Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 in 10 Bark River 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.
Bark River Township and the towns around it
Bark River Township has the best Health Grade of the 5 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bark River Township | B− | 38.2% | 12.5% | 14.7% | ZIP 49807 |
| Harris Township | C | 39.1% | 13.8% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
| Ford River Township | C+ | 38.8% | 12.8% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
| Wells Township | C− | 41% | 13.8% | 18% | ZIP codes |
| Escanaba Township | C+ | 39% | 12.9% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bark River Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bark River Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bark River Township is better than Michigan on 6 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Bark River Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bark River Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.3%15.7–21.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.9–16.6 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%14.8–18.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.2%31.5–45.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.9–14.3 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.5%34.6–42.3 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.5–41.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.3%30.9–37.6 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.3–12.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.8–10.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.3%10.3–14.7 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.3–17.3 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.8%19.9–28.2 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.9–18 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%25.7–36 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.6–7 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.3%78.3–83.9 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.6%65.7–71.6 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.4%88–90.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.2–82.4 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.1%69.2–76.7 | 69% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.4%73.8–84.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.8–30.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.4%26–34.8 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18.4–24.8 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.2%9.2–13.3 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7.2–10 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%8.2–12 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.2%28.9–37.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%12.9–17.5 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%11.8–15.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–5 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.1%7.1–9.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Bark River Township
Is Bark River Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bark River Township is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 64%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bark River Township?
CDC estimates 38.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 45.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bark River Township?
OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group in Escanaba, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Bark River Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bark River Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7%), 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 Bark River Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bark River 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. 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.