Photo: Humbles Art · CC BY-SA 3.0Benton Harbor’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Benton Harbor differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Benton Harbor. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benton Harbor
More Benton Harbor adults get no exercise
46.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan (about twice the Michigan rate). Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Benton Harbor
41.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 38.7% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Benton Harbor
1 in 3 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (34.2%), 4 times the Michigan rate. Food insecurity (52.7% vs 15.4%) and no reliable transportation (27% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 60.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Health varies a lot right around Benton Harbor
Grades next door run from St. Joseph (A−) to Benton Township (D−). Benton Harbor 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 Harbor’s likely range.
What’s behind Benton Harbor’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton Harbor is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Benton Harbor’s estimates fall in the lowest 1% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 56.2% 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 Harbor’s median household income is $31,117; among the 689 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$39K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Benton Harbor compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.8% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 10.4% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
2.9 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Benton Harbor 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.
60.4% of Benton Harbor adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Benton Harbor and the towns around it
Benton Harbor’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 Harbor | D− | 56.2% | 23.5% | 28% | CDC place |
| Benton Township | D− | 48.3% | 19.5% | 22.4% | ZIP 49022 |
| Benton Heights | — | — | — | — | |
| St. Joseph | A− | 33.7% | 9.8% | 10.7% | CDC place |
| Fair Plain | — | — | — | — | |
| St. Joseph Township | B | 37% | 12.6% | 13.3% | 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 Harbor adults…
Benton Harbor runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Benton Harbor residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Benton Harbor
No hospital or community health center in Benton Harbor 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 Benton Harbor; ≈ 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 Harbor adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Benton Harbor runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Benton Harbor 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 Harbor adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Benton Harbor
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Benton Harbor is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Benton Harbor’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Benton Harbor | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 40.3%36.5–44.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.6%19.3–24 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.6%22.1–27.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 56.2%49.5–62.8 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 23.5%21–26 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 51.7%47.7–55.5 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.4%29.7–37.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.4%30.2–36.6 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 15.8%14.1–17.6 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.4–10.2 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.1%12.7–15.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7.3%6.7–7.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 38.7%33.9–43.9 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 28%24.8–31.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 46.4%41.3–51.6 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.4%8.5–12.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 53.2%47.6–59 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.1%12–16.2 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.6%78.5–84.4 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 41.6%38.3–45.2 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%80–84.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.7%75.2–80.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.7%52.8–62.7 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%68.3–80.9 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.1–29 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40%34.9–45.2 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.4%30–38.7 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 52.7%48.2–57.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 38.5%34.7–42.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 34.2%31.1–37.6 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 27%24.4–29.7 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 60.4%56.4–64.4 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 49%44.4–53.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.1%25.2–30.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25%22.4–27.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6.2–7.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 14.6%13.3–15.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 19.6%17.7–21.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 11.5%10.5–12.6 | 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 Benton Harbor
Is Benton Harbor a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton Harbor is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Benton Harbor?
CDC estimates 56.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 49.5% and 62.8%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Benton Harbor?
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph in St. Joseph, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Benton Harbor’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Benton Harbor have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12–16.2%), 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 Harbor more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Benton Harbor.
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.