Mary's City of David · Photo: FotoGuy 49057 · CC BY 2.0Benton Township’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Benton Township differs from Michigan on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 23 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49022. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benton Township
Making ends meet is harder in Benton Township
1 in 5 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (22%), more than twice the Michigan rate. Food insecurity (35.3% vs 15.4%) and no reliable transportation (18.2% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 39.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Benton Township
52% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 24.7% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
More Benton Township adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.3%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 13 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Benton Township
Grades next door run from Royalton Township (A−) to Benton Harbor (D−). Benton Township is a D−. 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 Benton Township’s likely range; Benton Township’s figures come from ZIP code 49022, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Benton Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton Township is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #693 of 701 in Michigan. All seven of Benton Township’s estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 48.3% of adults, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
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). Benton Township’s median household income is $38,688; among the 2,030 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 7%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Benton Township compares well: binge drinking, 12.2% (U.S. 15.4%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
39.2% of Benton Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Keeping up with care
Share of Benton 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.
13 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Benton Township and the towns around it
Benton Township’s Health Grade ranks 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Township | D− | 48.3% | 19.5% | 22.4% | ZIP 49022 |
| Benton Harbor | D− | 56.2% | 23.5% | 28% | CDC place |
| Benton Heights | — | — | — | — | |
| Fair Plain | — | — | — | — | |
| Bainbridge Township | D− | 44.8% | 17.5% | 20.8% | ZIP codes |
| Royalton Township | A− | 34.3% | 10.8% | 10.9% | ZIP codes |
| Hagar Township | D | 42.4% | 15.8% | 18.9% | ZIP codes |
| Sodus Township | C− | 39.1% | 13.7% | 16.6% | ZIP codes |
Benton Heights and Fair Plain: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Benton Township adults…
Benton Township runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Benton Township
1 community health center in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Benton Township runs above Michigan.
4 in 10 Benton 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 Benton Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Benton Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Benton Township is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 23; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Benton Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Benton Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.1%29.1–35.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.4–21.4 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.9–23.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.3%41.8–55 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.5%17.4–21.7 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 47.2%43.4–51.2 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%32.1–39.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.5%31.3–37.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14%12.5–15.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.5–10.3 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.7%11.5–13.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.7–6.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.7%21.5–28.5 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.4%19.9–25 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.3%33.8–42.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.2%10.1–14.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 45.7%40.2–51.4 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.8%10.3–13.4 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%78.1–84 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%48.8–55.3 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%83.2–86.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.8%76.3–81.2 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.6%60–69.1 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.6%67.9–80.8 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.4–29.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%31.1–40.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.7%25–32.5 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 35.3%32.2–38.4 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.7%23–28.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22%19.9–24.2 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.2%16.4–19.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 39.2%36.4–41.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.3%39.1–47.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.6%21.3–26 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.6%18.6–22.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.8%9.9–11.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.2%13.9–16.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.5%7.9–9.2 | 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 Benton Township
Is Benton Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton Township is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #693 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 7%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Benton Township?
CDC estimates 48.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.8% and 55%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Benton Township?
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph in St. Joseph, 4.6 miles in a straight line from Benton Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Benton Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13.4%), 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 Benton Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benton 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.