On CDC estimates, Bedford Township is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Bedford Township trails Michigan on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49017, 49037, 49012. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bedford Township
Making ends meet is harder in Bedford Township
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.7%), vs 15.4% across Michigan. Utility shut-off threats (10.7% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 18.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Obesity and COPD run high in Bedford Township
43.4% of adults have obesity, vs 36.2% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. In all, Bedford Township runs above Michigan on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Bedford Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.6%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Bedford Township
Grades next door run from Ross Township (A−) to Springfield (D). Bedford Township is a C−. Around town ↓
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 Bedford Township’s likely range; Bedford Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 49017, 49037, 49012, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Bedford Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bedford Township is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #607 of 701 in Michigan. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 32% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Bedford Township’s median household income is $67,695; among the 10,299 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 18%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.9% of Bedford Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Bedford Township adults…
Bedford Township runs above MI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Bedford Township and the towns around it
Bedford Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Township | C− | 43.4% | 14% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Battle Creek | D | 44.4% | 14.3% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Level Park-Oak Park | — | — | — | — | |
| Pennfield Township | C− | 42.8% | 13.3% | 17.6% | ZIP codes |
| Ross Township | A− | 35.5% | 9.8% | 11% | ZIP codes |
| Johnstown Township | C | 39.9% | 12.9% | 16.6% | ZIP codes |
| Springfield | D | 44.6% | 14.3% | 21.4% | CDC place |
Level Park-Oak Park: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Bedford Township
1 hospital in Bedford Township, 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 Bedford 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Bedford Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Bedford Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Bedford 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bedford Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bedford Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bedford Township is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Bedford Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bedford Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.4–24.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.9–17.2 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.8%16.8–20.7 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.4%37.2–49.5 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14%12.3–15.6 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.5%36.7–44 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.6–40.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.2%29.1–35.1 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%7–8.5 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.7%8.7–10.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.5–16.7 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.6%15.5–19.8 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.6%24.7–32.4 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12.2–17.1 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.2%30–40.7 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6.8–9 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%77.3–83 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.2%60.9–67.5 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85.1–88.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.9–80.7 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%64–72.4 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%67.9–80.5 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%23.7–30.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.6%29–38.2 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.3%21–27.7 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.7%16.4–21 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14%12.3–15.8 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.8%8.7–10.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.9%16.8–21.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.7%31.7–39.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.8–18.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14.5–17.9 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.5–6.5 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.2–11.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.4–5.1 | 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 Bedford Township
Is Bedford Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bedford Township is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #607 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 18%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bedford Township?
CDC estimates 43.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.2% and 49.5%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bedford Township?
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital in Battle Creek, 4.7 miles in a straight line from Bedford Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bedford Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–9%), 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 Bedford Township 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 Bedford 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.