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C−Health Grade
Health in Garfield Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Garfield Township is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns

Garfield Township differs from Michigan on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 48632, 48622. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Garfield Township

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Garfield Township

1 in 8 adults have COPD (12%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.1%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 5%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Garfield Township runs above Michigan on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

The nearest ER is 23 miles from Garfield Township

The closest emergency room is Mclaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, 23.3 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Isabella Citizens for Health is closer (9.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓

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

44.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 81.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓

More Garfield Township adults get no exercise

3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.1%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 14 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve 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 Garfield Township’s likely range; Garfield Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 48632, 48622, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Garfield Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Garfield Township is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 35% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 9%).

C−Self-rated health23.4% · MI 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
DPhysical distress17.5% · MI 14% · U.S. 13%
C+Mental distress17.9% · MI 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity40% · MI 36.2% · U.S. 32.9%
DDiabetes15.2% · MI 11.9% · U.S. 12%
C−Smoking18.1% smoke · MI 14.6% · U.S. 11.8%
CExercise29.1% · MI 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 16%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $51K–$86K (10,402)Healthier than 14%

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). Garfield Township’s median household income is $68,556; among the 10,402 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$86K), it’s healthier than 14%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Where Garfield Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.3% (U.S. 76.5%).

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Garfield Township could be anywhere from D− to C+. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 48632,48622), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Garfield Township adults…

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

12 of every 100 Garfield Township adults have COPD
Michigan: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 10.8–13.4%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Why age matters here

Garfield Township is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Garfield Township as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Garfield Township26%
Michigan19%
Getting care

Care in and near Garfield Township

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

HNearest ERMclaren Central MichiganMount Pleasant · 23.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careIsabella Citizens for HealthFarwell · 9.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.7 mi
Isabella Citizens for Health
3 sites · nearest in Farwell
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
14.4 mi
Mymichigan Medical Center Clare
Clare · ★★★★★
23.3 mi
Mclaren Central Michigan
Mount Pleasant · ★★★★★
ER
23.5 mi
Corewell Health Reed City Hospital
Reed City · not rated
ERRural critical access
24.2 mi
Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital
Big Rapids · ★★★★★
ER
24.2 mi
Baldwin Family Health Care
4 sites · nearest in Mc Bain
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Garfield Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Garfield Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Garfield 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 Garfield 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

82%Yearly checkupMI 80%
63%Dentist visitMI 68%
89%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
70%Colon screeningMI 69%
73%MammogramMI 77%
81%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Garfield Township 7.1% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan

Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.

Get no exercise 29.1%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.2%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 14.1%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 18.1%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Garfield Township, betterGarfield Township, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Garfield Township gets moving

14 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Garfield Township adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

1 in 3Garfield Township adults feel lonely
31% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Garfield Township adults lack social or emotional support
22.1% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Garfield Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.2% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 6Garfield Township adults are in frequent mental distress
17.9% · MI 17.6% · About the same as MI
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Garfield 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
Garfield Township adults worry about having enough food
15.5% · MI 15.4%
About the same as MI
1 in 9
Garfield Township adults worry about keeping their housing
10.7% · MI 11.9%
About the same as MI
1 in 12
Garfield Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.2% · MI 8.7%
About the same as MI
1 in 13
Garfield Township adults lack reliable transportation
8% · MI 8.3%
About the same as MI

15.9% of Garfield Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Around town

Garfield Township and the towns around it

Garfield Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.

Freeman Township: 40%Surrey Township: 39.7%Orient Township: 38%Coldwater Township: 39.8%Lincoln Township: 40.5%Redding Township: 41.1%Sylvan Township: 38.8%Grant Township: 40.2%Gilmore Township: 39.9%Evart Township: 39.9%Fork Township: 38.3%Sherman Township: 41.1%Garfield Township: 40%Garfield TownshipFreeman TownshipSurrey TownshipOrient TownshipColdwater TownshipMymichigan Medical Center Clare · Clare · 14.4 mi · 2★ MedicareHFarwell Health Center · Farwell · 9.7 mi+
Healthier than MINear MILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#8 of 13 towns on this map, healthiest first
Orient Township38%
Surrey Township39.7%
Coldwater Township39.8%
Garfield Township40%
Freeman Township40%
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
Garfield TownshipC−40%15.2%18.1%ZIP codes
Freeman TownshipC−40%15.3%18.2%ZIP codes
Surrey TownshipC−39.7%14.2%18.2%ZIP codes
Orient Township————
Coldwater Township————

Orient Township and Coldwater 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.

37.5%

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

Walking or climbing stairs19%
Thinking or memory15.7%
Hearing10.5%
Errands alone10.3%
Vision6.1%
Dressing or bathing5%
Michigan

Every CDC estimate for Garfield Township

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Garfield Township is better than Michigan on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Garfield Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Garfield TownshipMIU.S.vs MI
Overall health
Fair or poor health23.4%21–26.119.4%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)17.5%15.8–19.314%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.9%16.3–19.617.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity40%33.7–46.836.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes15.2%13.5–17.111.9%12%Worse
High blood pressure44.8%41.1–48.536.7%34.4%Worse
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)41.7%38–45.635.4%37.1%Worse
Arthritis37.9%34.7–41.129.1%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.8%10.7–1311.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer11.7%10.7–12.78.9%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease10.1%9.2–11.17%6.4%Worse
COPD12%10.8–13.48.1%6.3%Worse
Stroke5%4.6–5.43.7%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)15.5%13–18.210.2%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes18.1%15.9–20.414.6%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work29.1%25.4–33.324.9%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking14.1%12–16.515.9%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours33.2%28.1–38.734.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.1%6–8.46.9%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year82.3%79.8–84.780.3%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year62.9%59.8–65.968%63.2%Worse
Cholesterol check in 5 years88.6%87.3–89.787.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)81.3%79–83.477.6%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)70.3%66.1–74.169%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)73.2%66.2–79.176.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression27.2%24–30.425.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely31%27–35.832.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.1%19.3–25.523.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15.5%13.3–1815.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.7%9.3–12.311.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.2%7.2–9.48.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8%7.1–9.18.3%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)15.9%13.6–18.414.3%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability37.5%33.8–41.431.1%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs19%17.1–21.314%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering15.7%14.1–17.414.3%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty10.5%9.6–11.67.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty6.1%5.5–6.74.9%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone10.3%9.3–11.48.6%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing5%4.6–5.53.8%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 Garfield Township

Is Garfield Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Garfield Township is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 14%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Garfield Township?

CDC estimates 40% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.7% and 46.8%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Garfield Township?

Mclaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant, 23.3 miles in a straight line from Garfield Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Garfield Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–8.4%), 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 Garfield Township 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 Garfield 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. 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.