Buena Vista Township’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Buena Vista Township differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 48601. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buena Vista Township
More Buena Vista Township adults get no exercise
43.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 11 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Buena Vista Township
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (40.8%), more than twice the Michigan rate. Utility shut-off threats (24.4% vs 8.7%) and no reliable transportation (20% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 44.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Stroke, diabetes and COPD run high in Buena Vista Township
1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (6.9%), about twice the Michigan rate. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (22%), vs 11.9% across Michigan. COPD is also above the state: 13.5%, vs 8.1% across Michigan. In all, Buena Vista Township runs above Michigan on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Buena Vista Township’s likely range; Buena Vista Township’s figures come from ZIP code 48601, which may reach past town lines.
What’s behind Buena Vista Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buena Vista Township is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #696 of 701 in Michigan. All seven of Buena Vista Township’s estimates fall in the lowest 3% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is diabetes: 22% of adults, against 11.9% across Michigan and 12% nationally.
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). Buena Vista Township’s median household income is $44,397; among the 3,792 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$55K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Buena Vista Township compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 7% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.1% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
44.6% of Buena Vista Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Buena Vista Township adults…
Buena Vista Township runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Buena Vista Township
No hospital or community health center in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Buena Vista Township adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Buena Vista Township runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Buena Vista 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.
Buena Vista Township and the towns around it
Buena Vista Township’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista Township | D− | 46.8% | 22% | 23.2% | ZIP 48601 |
| Saginaw | D− | 45.6% | 19.3% | 23.6% | CDC place |
| Buena Vista | — | — | — | — | |
| Blumfield Township | D | 40.7% | 16.4% | 17.7% | ZIP codes |
| Zilwaukee Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Bridgeport Township | D | 39.2% | 16.6% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| Merritt Township | C+ | 37.6% | 12.3% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Zilwaukee | C− | 35.5% | 13.2% | 16.8% | CDC place |
Buena Vista: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Zilwaukee 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 Buena Vista Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Buena Vista Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buena Vista Township is better than Michigan on 3 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Buena Vista Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Buena Vista Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 36%32.8–39.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.3–22.4 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19.5–24 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.8%40.3–53.1 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22%19.7–24.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.6%45.8–53.3 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%32–39.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.4%32.1–38.5 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.4%12.9–16.1 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7%6.4–7.7 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 10%9.1–10.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.5%12.3–14.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.9%6.4–7.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.9%21.1–29 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.2%20.6–25.8 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.1%38.4–47.5 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.1%9.1–13.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.4%37.7–49.2 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.7%11.1–14.4 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83%80–85.7 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.1%48.4–55.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.6%82.8–86.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.1%78.8–83.2 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.1%60.3–69.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76%69.1–81.9 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.2–29 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.4%33.2–43.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.4%27.3–35.4 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 40.8%37.4–44.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.1%25.1–30.9 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 24.4%21.9–26.8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20%18–21.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 44.6%41.3–47.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.2%41–49.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.3%23.8–28.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.1%19.1–23.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12%11.1–12.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.4%15–17.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.3%8.6–10 | 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 Buena Vista Township
Is Buena Vista Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buena Vista Township is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #696 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Buena Vista Township?
CDC estimates 46.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.3% and 53.1%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Buena Vista Township?
Mymichigan Medical Center Saginaw in Saginaw, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Buena Vista Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Buena Vista Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–14.4%), 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 Buena Vista Township more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buena Vista 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.