McGregor Memorial Conference Center · Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Detroit as a whole is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Detroit differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Detroit. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Detroit
Making ends meet is harder in Detroit
1 in 4 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (25.6%), 3 times the Michigan rate. Food insecurity (41.1% vs 15.4%) and housing insecurity (31.2% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 44.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Detroit
51.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 23.5% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
More Detroit adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.3%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 107 miles of trails across 296 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Detroit
Grades next door run from Grosse Pointe Park (A+) to River Rouge (D−). Detroit is a D−. Around town ↓
Detroit has eight hospitals within its borders
8 hospitals and 11 community health centers are inside Detroit. 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 Detroit’s likely range.
What’s behind Detroit’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Detroit is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #692 of 701 in Michigan. All seven of Detroit’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 22.6% of adults, against 17.6% across Michigan and 15.9% 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). Detroit’s median household income is $39,938; among the 2,379 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Detroit compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.1% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.8% (U.S. 15.4%).
At 649,095 residents, Detroit is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
44.1% of Detroit adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Keeping up with care
Share of Detroit adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
107 miles of trails across 296 parks and preserves
Care in and near Detroit
8 hospitals and 11 community health centers in Detroit.
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 Detroit; ≈ 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).
Detroit and the towns around it
Detroit’s Health Grade ranks 10th of 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | D− | 45.6% | 19.2% | 21.8% | CDC place |
| Dearborn | C | 33.7% | 11.2% | 18.2% | CDC place |
| River Rouge | D− | 46.8% | 20.1% | 27.6% | CDC place |
| Grosse Pointe Park | A+ | 28% | 8.5% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Dearborn Heights | C | 35% | 12.2% | 18% | CDC place |
| Melvindale | D− | 40.8% | 15.9% | 25.7% | CDC place |
| Redford Township | C | 37.8% | 12.8% | 16.2% | ZIP codes |
| Harper Woods | C− | 40.7% | 14.5% | 17.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Detroit adults…
Detroit runs below MI on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
How Detroit adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Detroit runs above Michigan.
4 in 10 Detroit 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Detroit adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Detroit
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Detroit is better than Michigan on 3 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Detroit’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Detroit | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.2%30.9–35.6 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.4–19.6 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.6%20.7–24.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.6%42–49.3 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.2%17.6–21 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.9%44.4–49.4 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%32.2–37 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%28.1–32.2 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 14.1%12.7–15.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.1%4.7–5.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.3–8.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11%10.1–11.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6%5.6–6.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 23.5%20.4–26.9 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.8%19.8–23.9 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.3%35.4–41.3 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%10.2–13.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 49.1%45.7–52.4 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.1%80–84.2 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.8%49–54.4 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%83.4–86.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%75.5–79.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.3%58.9–65.6 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%73.7–82.3 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.9%20.7–25.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%33.6–40.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.9%29.9–36.1 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 41.1%38.3–44 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 31.2%28.6–33.9 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 25.6%23.4–27.9 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20.8%19–22.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 44.1%41.3–46.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.6%37.9–43.5 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.2%20.5–23.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.5%17.8–21.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 10.7%10–11.5 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.8%13.6–16.1 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.3%7.8–8.9 | 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 Detroit
Is Detroit a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Detroit is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #692 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Detroit?
CDC estimates 45.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 42% and 49.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Detroit?
Henry Ford Health Hospital in Detroit, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Detroit’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Detroit have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–13.1%), 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 Detroit more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Detroit.
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.