On CDC estimates, Elk Rapids is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Elk Rapids differs from Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elk Rapids. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elk Rapids
Cancer and arthritis run high in Elk Rapids
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14.1%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. 36.1% of adults have arthritis, vs 29.1% across Michigan. In all, Elk Rapids runs above Michigan on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Elk Rapids keeps up with checkups
It beats Michigan on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.6% vs 80.3%) and dentist visits (75.6% vs 68%). Checkups ↓
Few Elk Rapids adults smoke
9.6% 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 Elk Rapids’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
What’s behind Elk Rapids’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Rapids is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 94% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 56%.
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). Elk Rapids’ median household income is $70,938; among the 10,584 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$89K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Elk Rapids adults…
Elk Rapids runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Elk Rapids is an older town: 35% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Elk Rapids as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Elk Rapids 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.
0.6 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Elk Rapids
No hospital or community health center in Elk Rapids 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 Elk Rapids; ≈ 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).
How Elk Rapids adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Elk Rapids does better than Michigan.
1 in 4 Elk Rapids 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.
5.8% of Elk Rapids adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Elk Rapids and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Rapids | A− | 32.9% | 11.7% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| Elk Rapids Township | A− | 33.3% | 11.7% | 10.1% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Elk Rapids adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Elk Rapids
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elk Rapids is better than Michigan on 15 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Elk Rapids’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Elk Rapids | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.8%11.9–18.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%10.6–15 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.1%11.2–15.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.9%25.2–41.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%9.8–13.8 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.7%35.1–44.4 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41%36.3–45.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.1%32–40.1 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 14.1%12.7–15.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%6.9–9.4 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.6%5.9–9.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5%3.9–6.3 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.6%7.2–12.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.9%15.5–24.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.3–16.5 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.2%23.2–35.7 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4%2.9–5.5 | 6.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.6%81.7–87.1 | 80.3% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 75.6%72.4–78.5 | 68% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.4%91–93.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.1%80.3–85.6 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 79.4%75.3–83.2 | 69% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%70.7–84.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.4%19.8–27.1 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.3%22.4–32.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.3%14.9–22.1 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7%5–9.3 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.5%4.3–7 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4%3.2–4.9 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.2%3.4–5.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.8%4.1–8.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.7%23.9–33.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.6%11–16.6 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.2%8.4–12.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.6–10.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%2.9–4.4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.2–7.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.4–3.6 | 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 Elk Rapids
Is Elk Rapids a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Rapids is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Elk Rapids?
CDC estimates 32.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.2% and 41.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Elk Rapids?
Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, 15.0 miles in a straight line from Elk Rapids’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Elk Rapids have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.9–5.5%), 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 Elk Rapids more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elk Rapids.
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.