On CDC estimates, Bethany Township is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Bethany Township differs from Michigan on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 48880, 48615. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bethany Township
Making ends meet is harder in Bethany Township
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21%), vs 15.4% across Michigan. Utility shut-off threats (12.2% vs 8.7%) and no reliable transportation (11.1% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 21.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Bethany Township
60.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 13.7% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Bethany Township
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.9%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓
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 Bethany Township’s likely range; Bethany Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 48880, 48615, 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 Bethany Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethany Township is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 44% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Bethany Township’s median household income is $80,461; among the 10,724 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$101K), it’s healthier than 10%, 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.
21.3% of Bethany Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bethany 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.
1.5 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Bethany Township adults…
Bethany Township runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bethany Township
No hospital or community health center in Bethany 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 Bethany 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 Bethany Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Bethany 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.
Bethany Township and the towns around it
Bethany Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany Township | C− | 39.5% | 12.5% | 19.9% | ZIP codes |
| St. Louis | D | 42.6% | 12.7% | 22.8% | CDC place |
| Emerson Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Jasper Township | C− | 40.4% | 12.7% | 20.2% | ZIP codes |
| Pine River Township | C | 37.2% | 11.8% | 16.8% | ZIP codes |
| Wheeler Township | C+ | 35.4% | 12.2% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
Emerson Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bethany Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bethany Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bethany Township is better than Michigan on 1 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Bethany Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bethany Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%20.8–26.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.3 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%17.4–21.4 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%32.8–46.6 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%11.1–14 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.9%34.3–41.8 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%31.2–38.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.5%25.8–31.4 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.3 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.2–8.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.7%11.2–16.3 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.9%17.4–22.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.5%24.6–32.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.6–20.4 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30.3–42.2 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%8.6–12 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.4%74.1–80.5 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.7–63.5 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%81–85 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.9%71.1–76.4 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.5%61.2–69.7 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.5%67.7–80.3 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%22.6–29.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%30.1–39.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.8–29.6 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21%18.3–24.1 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.9%13.8–18.1 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.2%10.8–13.9 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.8–12.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.3%18.6–24.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1%31.1–39.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%13.4–16.9 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.5–19.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%9–11.1 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 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 Bethany Township
Is Bethany Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bethany Township is healthier than 20% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 10%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bethany Township?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.8% and 46.6%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bethany Township?
Mymichigan Medical Center Alma in Alma, 6.5 miles in a straight line from Bethany Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bethany Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.6–12%), 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 Bethany 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 Bethany 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.