Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0Flint’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Flint differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Flint. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Flint
Dental care lags in Flint
50.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 26.3% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Flint
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (40.3%), more than twice the Michigan rate. Utility shut-off threats (24.2% vs 8.7%) and no reliable transportation (20.5% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 44.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Flint adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.6%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 14 miles of trails across 74 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. 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 Flint’s likely range.
What’s behind Flint’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Flint is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #696 of 701 in Michigan. All seven of Flint’s estimates fall in the lowest 3% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 50.5% of adults, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% 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). Flint’s median household income is $37,646; among the 1,772 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Flint compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.2% (U.S. 15.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Flint 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.
44.8% of Flint adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 74 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Flint adults…
Flint runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Flint
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Flint, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Flint; ≈ 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 Flint adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Flint runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Flint 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.
Flint and the towns around it
Flint’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint | D− | 50.5% | 19.3% | 25.3% | CDC place |
| Flint Township | D | 42.3% | 14.3% | 18% | ZIP codes |
| Genesee Township | D− | 45% | 15.9% | 22.8% | ZIP codes |
| Mount Morris Township | D− | 45.6% | 16.5% | 21.6% | ZIP codes |
| Burton | D | 40.8% | 12.8% | 19.3% | CDC place |
| Mundy Township | B− | 37.6% | 11.5% | 14.9% | ZIP codes |
| Beecher | — | — | — | — |
Beecher: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Flint adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Flint
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Flint is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Flint’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Flint | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.2%31.6–37.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.5–22.3 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.5%21.5–25.7 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 50.5%46.4–55 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.3%17.5–21.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.5%43.6–49.6 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%33.7–39.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.5%31.1–36.1 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.4%13–16 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.4%5.8–7 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.1%12.1–14.3 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.2%5.8–6.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.3%23–30.3 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.3%22.9–27.9 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.6%36.1–43.3 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.2%10.5–14.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 47.8%43.6–52.4 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.7%78.3–83.3 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.5%47.4–53.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.1%81.4–84.9 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75.8–80.2 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%59.5–67.4 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.4%71.1–81.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.1%24.4–30.2 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.6%36.4–45 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32%28.4–35.8 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 40.3%36.9–43.7 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.6%25.7–31.5 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 24.2%21.8–26.7 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20.5%18.6–22.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 44.8%41.4–48.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.1%41.8–48.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.7%22.7–27 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.4%20.6–24.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.8–8.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 11.1%10.3–12 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.4%15–17.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.9%8.3–9.6 | 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 Flint
Is Flint a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Flint is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #696 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Flint?
CDC estimates 50.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 46.4% and 55%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Flint?
Hurley Medical Center in Flint, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Flint’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Flint have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13.3%), 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 Flint more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Flint.
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.