Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Forest Township is healthier than 50%
Forest Township trails Michigan on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49651. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Forest Township
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Forest Township
1 in 9 adults have COPD (10.6%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 7% across Michigan. Cancer is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 8.9% across Michigan. In all, Forest Township runs above Michigan on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Forest Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Forest Township is healthier than 24%. Against the 6,661 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 50%. 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 Forest Township’s likely range; Forest Township’s figures come from ZIP code 49651, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Forest Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forest Township is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 34% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 20%).
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). Forest Township’s median household income is $52,581; among the 6,661 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Forest Township adults…
Forest Township runs above MI on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Forest Township residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Forest Township
No hospital or community health center in Forest Township 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 Forest Township; ≈ 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.
17 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Forest Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Forest Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Forest Township 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.
14.7% of Forest Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Forest Township and the towns around it
Forest Township’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Township | C− | 39.1% | 13.7% | 17.4% | ZIP 49651 |
| West Branch Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake City | — | — | — | — | |
| Caldwell Township | C− | 40.1% | 13.1% | 19% | ZIP codes |
| Pioneer Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Reeder Township | C | 38.7% | 13.1% | 17.1% | ZIP codes |
West Branch Township, Lake City and Pioneer Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Forest Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Forest Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Forest Township is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Forest Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Forest Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19.1–25 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.4–18.3 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.9–20.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.1%30.7–48.1 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.9–15.7 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.9%36.6–45.5 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%34.7–43.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34.9%31.3–38.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.8–11.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8–9.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.6%9.5–12 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%4–4.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%9.9–15.2 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.4%15.1–20 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%23.5–32.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%12.7–18.7 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1%26.2–40.4 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.8–8.2 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.1%77.7–84.2 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.8%63.2–70.4 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.7%86–89.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.6%76.7–82.2 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.6%64.4–74.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%65.8–81.7 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.5–31.5 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31%26–36.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.3%19–25.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.5–17.1 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.6%9–12.3 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.2 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.7%12.6–17.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1%30.7–39.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%14.7–19.3 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.9–17.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.3–10.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.7–10.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4–5 | 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 Forest Township
Is Forest Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Forest Township is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Forest Township?
CDC estimates 39.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 48.1%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Forest Township?
Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital in Cadillac, 14.7 miles in a straight line from Forest Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Forest Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–8.2%), 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 Forest Township 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 Forest Township.
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.