Photo: Dwight Burdette · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Dexter is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns
Dexter differs from Michigan on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 24 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dexter. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dexter
Dexter is an active town
Only 13.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Dexter
Dexter runs below Michigan on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.9% vs 8.1%), diabetes (7.7% vs 11.9%) and stroke (2.5% vs 3.7%). Conditions ↓
Few Dexter adults smoke
8.6% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓
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 Dexter’s likely range.
What’s behind Dexter’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dexter is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #11 of 701 in Michigan. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 90%.
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). Dexter’s median household income is $106,637; among the 7,662 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$133K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Dexter adults…
Dexter runs below MI on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Dexter
No hospital or community health center in Dexter 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 Dexter; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dexter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Dexter adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Dexter does better than Michigan.
3 in 10 Dexter 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.3% of Dexter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Dexter and the towns around it
Dexter’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter | A+ | 26.6% | 7.7% | 8.6% | CDC place |
| Scio Township | A+ | 26.2% | 8.1% | 8% | ZIP codes |
| Webster Township | A+ | 27.3% | 8.2% | 9.3% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dexter adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dexter
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dexter is better than Michigan on 24 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Dexter’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dexter | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 10.9%9–12.9 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.2%8.7–11.8 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.6%23.1–30.3 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.7%6.7–9 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.1%25.4–30.8 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.1%28.4–34 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.6%22.2–26.9 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%9–10.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.3–5.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.9%4–5.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.1–2.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 3.3%2.7–4.1 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.6%6.7–10.9 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.2%10.8–15.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.9–20.9 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 25.5%22.6–28.7 | 34.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.8%2.9–5 | 6.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79%76.2–81.5 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 77.8%75.7–80 | 68% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.9%89.3–92.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73–78.7 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.8%66.3–73.4 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%72.8–82.4 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.8%23.9–29.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.7%24.2–31.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 16.2%13.7–18.8 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.5%5–8.3 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6%4.7–7.5 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.5–5.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.4%3.6–5.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.3%3.9–7.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21%18.1–24.1 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.4%6.9–10 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10%8.4–11.7 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.4–3.3 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.5–6.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.6 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Dexter
Is Dexter a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dexter is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #11 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dexter?
CDC estimates 26.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.1% and 30.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dexter?
Chelsea Hospital in Chelsea, 7.3 miles in a straight line from Dexter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dexter have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.9–5%), 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 Dexter more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dexter.
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.