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≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Clearwater Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Clearwater Township is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns

Clearwater Township differs from Michigan on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 4 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49676, 49612, 49690. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Clearwater Township

Cancer and arthritis run high in Clearwater Township

1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.7%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (34.3%), vs 29.1% across Michigan. In all, Clearwater Township runs above Michigan on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Fewer Clearwater Township adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Michigan. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 Clearwater Township’s likely range; Clearwater Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 49676, 49612, 49690, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Clearwater Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clearwater Township is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #280 of 701 in Michigan. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 69% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 42%).

BSelf-rated health18.2% · MI 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
B−Physical distress14.4% · MI 14% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress15.9% · MI 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.3% · MI 36.2% · U.S. 32.9%
C+Diabetes12.6% · MI 11.9% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking14% smoke · MI 14.6% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise23.1% · MI 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 58%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (701)Healthier than 60%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $56K–$93K (10,857)Healthier than 67%

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). Clearwater Township’s median household income is $74,663; among the 10,857 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$93K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Clearwater Township could be anywhere from C to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 49676,49612,49690), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Clearwater Township adults…

Clearwater Township runs above MI on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

12 of every 100 Clearwater Township adults have had cancer
Michigan: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 10.8–12.6%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
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 9
Clearwater Township adults worry about having enough food
10.8% · MI 15.4%
Better than MI
1 in 12
Clearwater Township adults worry about keeping their housing
8.4% · MI 11.9%
Better than MI
1 in 16
Clearwater Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.3% · MI 8.7%
Better than MI
1 in 16
Clearwater Township adults lack reliable transportation
6.1% · MI 8.3%
Better than MI

10.1% of Clearwater Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Getting care

Care in and near Clearwater Township

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

HNearest ERKalkaska Memorial Health CenterKalkaska · 6.7 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMunson Medical Center★★★★★ · 18.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careEast Jordan Family Health CenterBellaire · 11 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
6.7 mi
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
Kalkaska · not rated
ERRural critical access
11 mi
East Jordan Family Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Bellaire
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.7 mi
Traverse Health Clinic and Coalition
Traverse City · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
18.5 mi
Munson Medical Center
Traverse City · ★★★★★
ER
29.3 mi
Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital
Grayling · ★★★★★
ER
32.4 mi
Charlevoix Area Hospital
Charlevoix · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Clearwater Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Clearwater Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Clearwater Township 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 Clearwater 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan

Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.1%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 32%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 15.4%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 14%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Clearwater Township, betterClearwater Township, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Clearwater Township gets moving

27 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

82%Yearly checkupMI 80%
70%Dentist visitMI 68%
90%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
75%Colon screeningMI 69%
78%MammogramMI 77%
80%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 18
working-age adults has no health insurance
Clearwater Township 5.5% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection

How Clearwater Township adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

3 in 10Clearwater Township adults feel lonely
29.6% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Clearwater Township adults lack social or emotional support
20.7% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Clearwater Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.4% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 6Clearwater Township adults are in frequent mental distress
15.9% · MI 17.6% · About the same as MI
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Clearwater Township 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.

Around town

Clearwater Township and the towns around it

Clearwater Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.

Milton Township: 35.8%Rapid City: 36.9%Helena Township: 35.6%Kalkaska Township: 38%Rapid River Township: 37.7%Whitewater Township: 33.7%Elk Rapids Township: 33.3%Forest Home Township: 35.7%Torch Lake Township: 34.9%Custer Township: 37.6%Excelsior Township: 38.6%Boardman Township: 39.7%Orange Township: 38.9%Coldsprings Township: 38.6%Acme Township: 33.5%Union Township: 36.3%East Bay Township: 34.8%Clearwater Township: 36.3%Clearwater TownshipMilton TownshipRapid CityHelena TownshipKalkaska TownshipRapid River TownshipWhitewater TownshipKalkaska Memorial Health Center · Kalkaska · 6.7 miHBellaire Family Health Center · Bellaire · 11 mi+
Healthier than MINear MILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#9 of 18 towns on this map, healthiest first
Whitewater Township33.7%
Helena Township35.6%
Milton Township35.8%
Clearwater Township36.3%
Rapid City36.9%
Rapid River Township37.7%
Kalkaska Township38%
MI36.2%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Clearwater TownshipB36.3%12.6%14%ZIP codes
Milton TownshipB35.8%12.7%12.8%ZIP codes
Rapid City————
Helena Township————
Kalkaska TownshipC38%13.2%17.1%ZIP codes
Rapid River TownshipC+37.7%13.1%16.3%ZIP codes
Whitewater TownshipA−33.7%10.7%11%ZIP codes

Rapid City: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Helena Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

31.3%

of Clearwater Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.7%
Thinking or memory12.9%
Hearing8.7%
Errands alone7.9%
Vision4.4%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Michigan

Every CDC estimate for Clearwater Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clearwater Township is better than Michigan on 8 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Clearwater Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Clearwater TownshipMIU.S.vs MI
Overall health
Fair or poor health18.2%15.9–20.619.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14.4%12.8–1614%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.9%14.3–17.617.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity36.3%30.1–42.436.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.6%11–14.111.9%12%About the same
High blood pressure39.7%36.1–43.136.7%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)39.1%35.5–42.635.4%37.1%Worse
Arthritis34.3%31.2–37.229.1%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.1%10–12.211.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer11.7%10.8–12.68.9%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease8.2%7.4–97%6.4%Worse
COPD8.8%7.6–108.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.9%3.6–4.33.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.6%8.1–11.310.2%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14%12–16.214.6%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work23.1%19.7–26.824.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking15.4%13.1–17.715.9%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32%27.2–37.334.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)5.5%4.5–6.66.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year81.9%79.3–84.380.3%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year70.4%67.7–73.168%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years89.8%88.5–9187.4%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)80.4%78.1–82.677.6%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)74.7%71.3–78.169%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)77.6%71.9–82.776.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.4%22.4–28.425.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.6%25.6–34.132.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support20.7%17.9–23.823.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food10.8%9.2–12.815.4%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing8.4%7.2–9.811.9%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.3%5.4–7.28.7%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6.1%5.4–78.3%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)10.1%8.5–1214.3%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability31.3%27.7–3531.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.7%12.8–16.714%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.9%11.4–14.514.3%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.7%7.9–9.77.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.4%3.9–4.94.9%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.9%6.9–8.98.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.7%3.3–4.13.8%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 Clearwater Township

Is Clearwater Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clearwater Township is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #280 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Clearwater Township?

CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 42.4%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Clearwater Township?

Kalkaska Memorial Health Center in Kalkaska, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Clearwater Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Clearwater Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–6.6%), 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 Clearwater Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clearwater Township.

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.