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–Not graded
Health in Forest Township · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Forest Township residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Forest Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49765. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Forest Township

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Forest Township

1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.4%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.2%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 5%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Forest Township runs above Michigan on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

The nearest ER is 32 miles from Forest Township

The closest emergency room is Mclaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey, 32.2 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Thunder Bay Community Health Service is closer (5.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓

Smoking is more common in Forest Township

1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓

More high blood pressure in Forest Township, and more people treating it

43% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓

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 49765, which may reach past town lines.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Forest Township adults…

Forest Township runs above MI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

12 of every 100 Forest Township adults have COPD
Michigan: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 11.2–13.7%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Getting care

Care in and near Forest Township

No hospital or community health center in Forest Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMclaren Northern MichiganPetoskey · 32.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careThunder Bay Community Health ServiceOnaway · 5.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.7 mi
Thunder Bay Community Health Service
5 sites · nearest in Onaway
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
16.5 mi
Alcona Citizens for Health
3 sites · nearest in Indian River
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
24.8 mi
Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital
Gaylord · ★★★★★
32.2 mi
Mclaren Northern Michigan
Petoskey · ★★★★★
ER
44.8 mi
Mymichigan Medical Center Alpena
Alpena · ★★★★★
ER
45.2 mi
Charlevoix Area Hospital
Charlevoix · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Forest Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Forest Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Forest Township itself

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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan

Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.

Get no exercise 29.7%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.4%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 14.2%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 19%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Forest Township, betterForest Township, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Forest Township gets moving

84 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Forest Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.

82%Yearly checkupMI 80%
64%Dentist visitMI 68%
88%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
68%Colon screeningMI 69%
74%MammogramMI 77%
81%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Forest Township 7.3% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection

How Forest Township adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

1 in 3Forest Township adults feel lonely
31.4% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Forest Township adults lack social or emotional support
22.5% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
3 in 10Forest Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.1% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Forest Township adults are in frequent mental distress
18.4% · MI 17.6% · About the same as MI
The one neighbors can help with

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.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Forest Township adults worry about having enough food
16.6% · MI 15.4%
About the same as MI
1 in 9
Forest Township adults worry about keeping their housing
11.3% · MI 11.9%
About the same as MI
1 in 11
Forest Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.7% · MI 8.7%
About the same as MI
1 in 12
Forest Township adults lack reliable transportation
8.6% · MI 8.3%
About the same as MI

17.3% of Forest Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Around town

Forest Township and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Allis Township: 42.4%Waverly Township: 42%Nunda Township: 43.4%Walker Township: 44%Montmorency Township: 39.2%Case Township: 41.3%Onaway: 42.7%North Allis Township: 42.4%Grant Township: 40.8%Koehler Township: 41.9%Aloha Township: 40.8%Wilmot Township: 42.7%Ellis Township: 43.2%Corwith Township: 40.5%Hillman Township: 39.4%Briley Township: 38.2%Vienna Township: 38.4%Bismarck Township: 41.8%Wellington Township: 41%Forest Township: 42.4%Forest TownshipAllis TownshipWaverly TownshipNunda TownshipWalker TownshipMontmorency TownshipMunson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital · Gaylord · 24.8 mi · 4★ MedicareHThunder Bay Community Health Service - Onaway · Onaway · 5.7 mi+Indian River Health Center · Indian River · 16.5 mi+
Healthier than MINear MILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#13 of 20 towns on this map, healthiest first
Montmorency Township39.2%
Waverly Township42%
Forest Township42.4%
Allis Township42.4%
Nunda Township43.4%
Walker Township44%
MI36.2%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Allis Township————
Waverly Township————
Nunda TownshipD43.4%15.3%19.4%ZIP codes
Montmorency TownshipD39.2%16.6%18.9%ZIP codes
Walker Township————

Allis Township, Waverly Township and Walker Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

38.5%

of Forest Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.6%
Thinking or memory16.5%
Hearing10.6%
Errands alone10.9%
Vision6.3%
Dressing or bathing5.2%
Michigan

Questions about health in Forest Township

Why doesn’t Forest Township have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Forest Township.

Where can I get low-cost care near Forest Township?

1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Thunder Bay Community Health Service - Onaway in Onaway, 5.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Forest Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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. 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.