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≈ C−Health Grade
Health in Decatur · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Decatur is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns

Decatur trails Michigan on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

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

What stands out

What stands out about health in Decatur

Health Grade

What’s behind Decatur’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Decatur is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 39% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).

CSelf-rated health22.2% · MI 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
C−Physical distress16% · MI 14% · U.S. 13%
DMental distress19.7% · MI 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity39.7% · MI 36.2% · U.S. 32.9%
C+Diabetes12.8% · MI 11.9% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking17.1% smoke · MI 14.6% · U.S. 11.8%
CExercise28.4% · MI 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 22%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $46K–$77K (9,357)Healthier than 30%

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). Decatur’s median household income is $61,806; among the 9,357 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

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

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%Yearly checkupMI 80%
64%Dentist visitMI 68%
86%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
69%Colon screeningMI 69%
76%MammogramMI 77%
77%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Decatur 9% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Decatur adults…

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

37 of every 100 Decatur adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · about the same · likely 32.4–40.8%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Getting care

Care in and near Decatur

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

HNearest ERBronson Lakeview HospitalPaw Paw · 8.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBronson Lakeview Hospital★★★★★ · 8.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLakeland Immediate Care CenterCassopolis · 13.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
8.8 mi
Bronson Lakeview Hospital
Paw Paw · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
11.2 mi
Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital
Dowagiac · not rated
ERRural critical access
13.1 mi
Lakeland Immediate Care Center
4 sites · nearest in Cassopolis
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
15 mi
Corewell Health Watervliet Hospital
Watervliet · not rated
ER
15.9 mi
Intercare Community Health Network
2 sites · nearest in Bangor
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
20.6 mi
Three Rivers Health
Three Rivers · ★★★★★
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Decatur itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Decatur itself
✓ Mental healthDecatur is not a shortage area

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 Decatur; ≈ 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 28.4%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.2%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 15.8%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 17.1%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Decatur, betterDecatur, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Decatur gets moving

0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Decatur adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

1 in 3Decatur adults feel lonely
32.9% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Decatur adults lack social or emotional support
23.1% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
3 in 10Decatur adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.8% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Decatur adults are in frequent mental distress
19.7% · MI 17.6% · About the same as MI
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Decatur 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
Decatur adults worry about having enough food
17.7% · MI 15.4%
About the same as MI
1 in 8
Decatur adults worry about keeping their housing
13.3% · MI 11.9%
About the same as MI
1 in 10
Decatur adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.7% · MI 8.7%
About the same as MI
1 in 11
Decatur adults lack reliable transportation
9.5% · MI 8.3%
About the same as MI

16.8% of Decatur adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Around town

Decatur and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
DecaturC−39.7%12.8%17.1%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

35.4%

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

Walking or climbing stairs16.1%
Thinking or memory17.2%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone10.2%
Vision5.8%
Dressing or bathing4.4%
Michigan

Every CDC estimate for Decatur

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Decatur is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Decatur’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…DecaturMIU.S.vs MI
Overall health
Fair or poor health22.2%18.7–25.819.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)16%13.9–18.314%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)19.7%17.3–22.217.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity39.7%32.3–47.536.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.8%10.9–14.711.9%12%About the same
High blood pressure36.5%32.4–40.836.7%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.6%31.5–4035.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.3%27.9–34.729.1%25.3%About the same
Asthma12.2%10.9–13.711.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.9%8–9.98.9%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.4%6.5–8.57%6.4%About the same
COPD9.5%8–11.28.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.9%3.4–4.43.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.6%9.4–14.310.2%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.1%14–20.314.6%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work28.4%23.5–33.424.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking15.8%13–1915.9%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.2%28.2–40.834.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)9%7.3–11.16.9%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year79.2%75.7–82.680.3%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year63.8%60.2–67.568%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.7%83.6–87.987.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76.7%73.8–79.677.6%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.8%64–73.469%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)76.4%68.9–83.176.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression28.8%25–32.925.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.9%27.9–38.132.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support23.1%19.7–26.923.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food17.7%14.5–2115.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing13.3%11.1–15.611.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off9.7%8.2–11.28.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation9.5%8.1–118.3%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)16.8%13.7–20.114.3%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability35.4%30.6–40.231.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16.1%13.7–18.714%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering17.2%14.8–19.714.3%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty8.1%7.1–9.37.3%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.8%5–6.64.9%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone10.2%8.7–11.88.6%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.4%3.8–5.23.8%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 Decatur

Is Decatur a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Decatur is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Decatur?

CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.3% and 47.5%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Decatur?

Bronson Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw, 8.8 miles in a straight line from Decatur’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.

How many people in Decatur have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–11.1%), 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 Decatur 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 Decatur.

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.