Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Buchanan

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Buchanan Downtown Historic District 06Photo: JDNorry · CC BY-SA 3.0
≈ CHealth Grade
Health in Buchanan · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Buchanan is healthier than 60%

On every measure CDC estimates, Buchanan looks like Michigan as a whole.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buchanan. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Buchanan

Health Grade

What’s behind Buchanan’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buchanan is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #469 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 56% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 14%).

C+Self-rated health20.2% · MI 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.2% · MI 14% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress19.4% · MI 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity38.7% · MI 36.2% · U.S. 32.9%
BDiabetes11.7% · MI 11.9% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking16.3% smoke · MI 14.6% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise26.7% · MI 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 34%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (701)Healthier than 33%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $42K–$70K (7,774)Healthier than 60%

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). Buchanan’s median household income is $56,163; among the 7,774 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 60%, more than its income alone would suggest.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Buchanan could be anywhere from D to B+. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Buchanan adults…

On every condition, Buchanan is about the same as Michigan. Tap one to see it as people.

36 of every 100 Buchanan adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · about the same · likely 32.1–39.7%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Getting care

Care in and near Buchanan

No hospital or community health center in Buchanan itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMemorial Hospital of South BendSouth Bend · 11.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyLakeland Hospital, St. Joseph★★★★★ · 19.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNiles Community Health CenterNiles · 7.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.1 mi
Niles Community Health Center
Niles · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
10.4 mi
Indiana Health Centers Incorporated
5 sites · nearest in South Bend
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
11.6 mi
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
South Bend · ★★★★★
ER
13.1 mi
Unity Physicians Hospital
Mishawaka · not rated
14.6 mi
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Mishawaka · ★★★★★
ER
16.7 mi
Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital
Dowagiac · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Buchanan itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Buchanan itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Buchanan itself

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 Buchanan; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan

Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.

Get no exercise 26.7%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 38.1%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 16.8%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 16.3%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Buchanan, betterBuchanan, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Buchanan gets moving

1.7 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Buchanan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.

78%Yearly checkupMI 80%
66%Dentist visitMI 68%
86%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
69%Colon screeningMI 69%
78%MammogramMI 77%
76%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Buchanan 7.4% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection

How Buchanan adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

1 in 3Buchanan adults feel lonely
33.5% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Buchanan adults lack social or emotional support
23.6% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
3 in 10Buchanan adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.2% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Buchanan adults are in frequent mental distress
19.4% · MI 17.6% · About the same as MI
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Buchanan adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Buchanan adults worry about having enough food
15.8% · MI 15.4%
About the same as MI
1 in 8
Buchanan adults worry about keeping their housing
12.3% · MI 11.9%
About the same as MI
1 in 11
Buchanan adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.1% · MI 8.7%
About the same as MI
1 in 12
Buchanan adults lack reliable transportation
8.6% · MI 8.3%
About the same as MI

14.9% of Buchanan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Around town

Buchanan and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
BuchananC38.7%11.7%16.3%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

34.4%

of Buchanan adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.9%
Thinking or memory16.4%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone9.6%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4%
Michigan

Every CDC estimate for Buchanan

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buchanan is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Buchanan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…BuchananMIU.S.vs MI
Overall health
Fair or poor health20.2%17.3–23.219.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.2%13.2–17.114%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)19.4%17.1–21.717.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity38.7%32.1–45.236.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.7%10.1–13.511.9%12%About the same
High blood pressure35.9%32.1–39.736.7%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)33.8%30–37.635.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis30%26.8–33.129.1%25.3%About the same
Asthma12.3%10.9–13.811.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.8%7.9–9.88.9%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6.9%6.1–7.87%6.4%About the same
COPD8.7%7.5–10.18.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.7%3.3–4.23.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.1%9.9–14.710.2%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.3%13.6–19.114.6%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work26.7%22.2–31.124.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking16.8%13.9–19.915.9%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours38.1%32.8–43.834.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.4%5.9–9.16.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year77.7%74.2–8180.3%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year65.9%62.7–69.268%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.7%83.5–87.887.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)75.5%72.5–78.277.6%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.8%64.6–72.969%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78%71.9–83.676.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression28.2%24.5–3225.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely33.5%28.7–38.732.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support23.6%20–27.423.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15.8%13–18.915.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing12.3%10.3–14.511.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off9.1%7.7–10.58.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.6%7.4–9.98.3%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)14.9%12.2–17.914.3%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability34.4%29.9–38.831.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.9%12.7–17.114%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering16.4%14.2–18.814.3%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.6%6.7–8.67.3%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.2%4.5–5.84.9%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone9.6%8.3–10.98.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.5–4.63.8%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 Buchanan

Is Buchanan a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buchanan is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #469 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 Buchanan?

CDC estimates 38.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.1% and 45.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Buchanan?

Memorial Hospital of South Bend in South Bend, 11.6 miles in a straight line from Buchanan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in Buchanan have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–9.1%), 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.