Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Escanaba is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Escanaba trails Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Escanaba. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Escanaba
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Escanaba
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.1%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Escanaba runs above Michigan on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Escanaba is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Escanaba is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on physical distress, mental distress, obesity and smoking. Health Grade ↓
Depression is more common in Escanaba
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (30.3%), vs 25.7% across Michigan. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.9%, vs 17.6% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Escanaba is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Escanaba is healthier than 10%. Against the 4,144 towns with similar household incomes ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 33%. 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 Escanaba’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Escanaba’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Escanaba is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #662 of 701 in Michigan. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 21% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Escanaba’s median household income is $45,369; among the 4,144 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($34K–$57K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Escanaba adults…
Escanaba runs above MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Escanaba adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Escanaba runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Escanaba 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.
Care in and near Escanaba
No hospital or community health center in Escanaba 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 Escanaba; ≈ 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.
10 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Escanaba adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.4% of Escanaba adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Escanaba and the towns around it
Escanaba’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escanaba | D | 41.9% | 14.4% | 19.5% | CDC place |
| Wells Township | C− | 41% | 13.8% | 18% | ZIP codes |
| Ford River Township | C+ | 38.8% | 12.8% | 15.4% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Escanaba adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Escanaba
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Escanaba is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Escanaba’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Escanaba | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.6%21.6–27.8 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.6–19.8 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.7–22.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.9%34.1–50.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.6–16.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%35.6–44.2 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%32.2–40.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.2%31.6–38.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.4%11–13.9 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.5–11.5 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.4–10.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.1%10.7–13.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13.2–19.1 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%17–22.3 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%25.6–35.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%11.9–17.5 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.7%25.1–37 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.9–10.1 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%76.3–82.9 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.2%59.8–66.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.5%83.4–87.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.3–81.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.5%63.9–73.1 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%67.4–81.5 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.3%26.3–34.5 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27–37.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.6%18.9–26 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.2%16.2–22.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.1–15 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.8–11.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.4%17.5–23.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.3%35.6–45 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.5%17–22.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18%16–20.1 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.8–6 | 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 Escanaba
Is Escanaba a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Escanaba is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #662 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Escanaba?
CDC estimates 41.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.1% and 50.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Escanaba?
OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group in Escanaba, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Escanaba’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Escanaba have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–10.1%), 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 Escanaba more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Escanaba.
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.