Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, East Tawas is healthier than 77%
East Tawas differs from Michigan on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for East Tawas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in East Tawas
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in East Tawas
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (13.1%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.7%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.1%, vs 7% across Michigan. In all, East Tawas runs above Michigan on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 36% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and cancer, COPD and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in East Tawas, and more people treating it
45% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 82.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
East Tawas is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, East Tawas is healthier than 27%. Against the 3,173 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 77%. Health Grade ↓
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 East Tawas’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind East Tawas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Tawas is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, #534 of 701 in Michigan. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 60% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). East Tawas’ median household income is $42,450; among the 3,173 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 77%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where East Tawas compares well: cholesterol check in 5 years, 90% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.8% (U.S. 76.5%); worried about keeping housing, 9.5% (U.S. 12%).
Out of every 100 East Tawas adults…
East Tawas runs above MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
East Tawas is an older town: 36% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in East Tawas as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of East Tawas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Care in and near East Tawas
No hospital or community health center in East Tawas 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 East Tawas; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
1.3 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How East Tawas adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 in 10 East Tawas 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.
13.9% of East Tawas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
East Tawas and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Tawas | C | 37.2% | 15% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Baldwin Township | C | 37% | 14.9% | 16% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of East Tawas adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for East Tawas
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, East Tawas is better than Michigan on 5 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside East Tawas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | East Tawas | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.1–26.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15–19.7 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.4–18.5 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.2%29.2–45.3 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15%12.8–17.2 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45%40.2–49.4 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.1%37.2–46.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.9%34.8–42.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 13.1%11.8–14.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.7%10–13.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.4–5.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.6%9.3–14.2 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%13.5–19.3 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.2%24.1–34.5 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.5–15.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.3%25.3–37.9 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.2–8.1 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 83.4%80.3–86.1 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.7%65.2–72.1 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90%88.4–91.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.8%79.9–85.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.2%68.5–77.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%67.7–82.4 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.6%22.7–30.4 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30%25–35.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.4–24.6 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%11.2–16.9 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%7.8–11.5 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.2%6.1–8.5 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.2–8.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.9%11.2–16.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.6%32.6–42.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.8%16.9–23.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.6%12.7–16.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.2%8.8–11.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.2–5.6 | 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 East Tawas
Is East Tawas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, East Tawas is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #534 of 701 in Michigan. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in East Tawas?
CDC estimates 37.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 45.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to East Tawas?
Tawas St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City, 2.5 miles in a straight line from East Tawas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in East Tawas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8.1%), 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 East Tawas 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 East Tawas.
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.