Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Big Rapids Township is healthier than 64%
Big Rapids Township differs from Michigan on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49307. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Big Rapids Township
Big Rapids Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Big Rapids Township is healthier than 45%. Against the 9,742 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Big Rapids Township
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (30.7%), vs 25.7% across Michigan. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 20.9%, vs 17.6% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Big Rapids Township has a community health center but no hospital
Baldwin Family Health Care is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital in Big Rapids, 1.6 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Rapids Township’s likely range; Big Rapids Township’s figures come from ZIP code 49307, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Big Rapids Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Rapids Township is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns, #379 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 74% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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 Rapids Township’s median household income is $64,083; among the 9,742 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Big Rapids Township adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Big Rapids Township runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Big Rapids 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.
Care in and near Big Rapids Township
1 community health center in Big Rapids 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 Big Rapids 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).
Out of every 100 Big Rapids Township adults…
Big Rapids Township runs below MI on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
3.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Big Rapids Township 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.
17.8% of Big Rapids Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Big Rapids Township and the towns around it
Big Rapids Township has the best Health Grade of the 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 Rapids Township | C+ | 35.7% | 10.5% | 15.4% | ZIP 49307 |
| Colfax Township | C+ | 35.9% | 11.1% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
| Mecosta Township | C | 36.6% | 13.2% | 16.1% | ZIP codes |
| Norwich Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Green Township | C | 37.4% | 11.8% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
Norwich 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 Rapids Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Big Rapids 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 Rapids Township is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Big Rapids 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 Rapids Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%18–22.8 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.8–16 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.8–23.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%29.1–42.9 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29–35.9 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.9%28.4–35.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5%23.9–29.3 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.2–8.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.8%6.2–7.5 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.9–9.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.6–16.6 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.4%13.5–17.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%21.7–29.4 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%14.5–20.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%28.7–40.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.9–8.2 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.2%74.7–81.4 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64%60.5–67.2 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.7%79.5–83.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74%71.8–76.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.4%63.7–72.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%66.7–80.4 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.7%26.8–34.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35%29.8–40.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%19.2–26.3 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.4%14.7–20.3 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.3%10.4–14.2 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9–11.7 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.8%15.3–20.4 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31.1–39.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.4–15.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.1%16.2–20 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5.1–6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.4 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Rapids Township
Is Big Rapids Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Big Rapids Township is healthier than 44% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #379 of 701 in Michigan. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Big Rapids Township?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 42.9%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Big Rapids Township?
Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital in Big Rapids, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Big Rapids 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 Rapids Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–8.2%), 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 Big Rapids Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Big Rapids 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.