Hardy Hydroelectric Plant · Photo: Larry Pieniazek, Lar (commons) or User:Lar (wikipedia) · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Big Prairie Township is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Big Prairie Township trails Michigan on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49349, 49337, 49336. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Prairie Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Big Prairie Township
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.6%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Big Prairie Township runs above Michigan on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Big Prairie Township
62% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 16.7% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Big Prairie Township
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (20.4%), 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 Big Prairie Township’s likely range; Big Prairie Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 49349, 49337, 49336, 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 Big Prairie Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Prairie Township is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #640 of 701 in Michigan. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 27% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Big Prairie Township’s median household income is $53,289; among the 6,873 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Big Prairie Township adults…
Big Prairie Township runs above MI on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Prairie 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.
44 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Big Prairie Township
No hospital or community health center in Big Prairie 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 Big Prairie 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 Big Prairie Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Big Prairie 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.
19% of Big Prairie Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Big Prairie Township and the towns around it
Big Prairie Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Prairie Township | D | 39.2% | 14.1% | 20.4% | ZIP codes |
| Everett Township | D | 39.8% | 14.5% | 21.2% | ZIP codes |
| Croton Township | C | 38.3% | 12.7% | 18% | ZIP codes |
| Aetna Township | D | 39.4% | 13.2% | 20.5% | ZIP codes |
| Goodwell Township | — | — | — | — |
Goodwell 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 Big Prairie Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Prairie Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Big Prairie Township is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Big Prairie Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Big Prairie Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.3%21.4–27.4 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.2–19.3 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.1–21.5 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.2%31.7–47.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.1%12.2–16.1 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.2%36.9–45.4 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.3%34.1–42.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.6%31.2–38.2 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.8–13.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–10.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8.2–10 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.6%10.3–13 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.7%13.8–20 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.4%17.7–23.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.7%25–34.4 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%13.5–19.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2%28–40.7 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%7.1–9.9 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.3–83 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62%58.5–65.5 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84.3–87.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.8–81.2 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%61.7–71.3 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%63–78.4 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%24–31.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%26.9–37 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%19.9–27.1 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.6%15.9–21.3 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.1–14.9 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.6%8.5–10.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19%16.3–21.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.5%32.8–42 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.2%15.9–20.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.3%15.4–19.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.5–10.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.7–7 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11%9.8–12.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 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 Big Prairie Township
Is Big Prairie Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Prairie Township is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #640 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 Big Prairie Township?
CDC estimates 39.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 47.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Prairie Township?
Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital in Big Rapids, 14.0 miles in a straight line from Big Prairie Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Big Prairie Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.9%), 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 Big Prairie 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 Big Prairie 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.