Spectacle Reef Light Station · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Benton Township is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns
Benton Township differs from Michigan on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49721. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Benton Township
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Benton Township
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.9%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 7% across Michigan. Cancer is also above the state: 11.7%, vs 8.9% across Michigan. In all, Benton Township runs above Michigan on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 26 miles from Benton Township
The closest emergency room is Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Center in Saint Ignace, 26.1 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Alcona Citizens for Health is closer (5.6 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Benton Township, and more people treating it
41.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 49721, 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 Benton Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Benton Township is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #553 of 701 in Michigan. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 46% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 16%).
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 $68,401; among the 10,378 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$86K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Benton Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.2% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Benton Township adults…
Benton Township runs above MI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Benton Township is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Benton Township as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Benton Township
No hospital or community health center in Benton 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 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).
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.
99 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How Benton Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.4% of Benton Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Benton Township and the towns around it
Benton Township has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 · Inverness Township | C | 40.8% | 14.3% | 16.9% | ZIP 49721 |
| Cheboygan | D | 42.2% | 13.8% | 19% | CDC place |
| Grant Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Aloha Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Bearinger Township | — | — | — | — |
Benton Township and Inverness Township share one ZIP estimate, so they share a row. Grant Township and Bearinger Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Aloha Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
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 1 and worse on 9; 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 | 21.8%19.1–24.6 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.5–18.4 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.5–19.5 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.8%32.8–49.1 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.3%12.4–16.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.9%37.4–46.4 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.2–44.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.2%32.4–40.1 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.4–13.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.7%10.7–12.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.4–10.3 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.3–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.6%10.2–15.4 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.7–19.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.6%22.5–31.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.8–17.5 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%27.1–40.7 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.7–7.9 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%78.9–85.1 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.9%62.1–69.5 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.5%87–90 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.2%78.4–83.7 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.4%64.4–74.1 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%66.1–81.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%23.2–31.2 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%25.6–35.8 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%18.8–25.7 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%12.4–16.8 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.3%8.8–11.9 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.9%6.9–8.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.4%12.4–16.5 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36%31.6–40.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.8%15.6–20.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.6–17 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.9–11.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.2 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.8–10.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5 | 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 healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #553 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. 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 40.8% of adults (the figure for ZIP code 49721, which Benton Township shares with Inverness Township and Beaugrand Township) have obesity, likely between 32.8% and 49.1%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Benton Township?
Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Center in Saint Ignace, 26.1 miles in a straight line from Benton Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Benton Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–7.9%), 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 Benton Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B. The figures are ZIP code 49721’s, shared with Inverness Township and Beaugrand Township.
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.