Hartwick, Edward E., Memorial Building · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Grayling Township is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns
Grayling Township differs from Michigan on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 49738. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Grayling Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Grayling Township
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.6%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.9%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Grayling Township runs above Michigan on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Grayling Township, and more people treating it
42% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 80.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Grayling Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.8%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. 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 Grayling Township’s likely range; Grayling Township’s figures come from ZIP code 49738, 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 Grayling Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Grayling Township is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns, #595 of 701 in Michigan. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 39% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Grayling Township’s median household income is $65,127; among the 9,954 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Grayling Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.9% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Grayling Township adults…
Grayling Township runs above MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Grayling Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
503 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Grayling Township
No hospital or community health center in Grayling 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 Grayling 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).
How Grayling Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Grayling 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.
15.8% of Grayling Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Grayling Township and the towns around it
Grayling Township’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayling Township | C− | 37.6% | 14.7% | 17.8% | ZIP 49738 |
| Lovells Township | — | — | — | — | |
| South Branch Township | C | 37.2% | 14.4% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Frederic Township | C+ | 36.1% | 13.3% | 15.6% | ZIP codes |
| Maple Forest Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Bear Lake Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Beaver Creek Township | C | 37.3% | 14.5% | 16.6% | ZIP codes |
Lovells Township, Maple Forest Township and Bear Lake 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 Grayling Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Grayling Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Grayling Township is better than Michigan on 1 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Grayling Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Grayling Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.9%20.1–25.9 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15–19 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%16–20 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.6%29.8–46.1 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.7%12.8–16.8 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42%37.5–46.6 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.2%34.8–43.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 36.5%32.7–40.4 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.5%10.5–12.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%9–11 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.6%10.3–12.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%11–16.5 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.8%15.3–20.3 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 28.9%24.3–33.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.5–18.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.2%26–38.9 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.9–8.3 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.7–85 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.8%62.3–69.4 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.7–89.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.9%78.1–83.6 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%66.4–75.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%67.4–81.9 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.8%23.9–31.9 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.3%26.4–36.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.9%18.5–25.5 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.2%13–17.8 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.7%9.2–12.5 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.3–9.6 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.8%13.6–18.5 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.1%32.6–41.7 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%16.2–20.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.9–17.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.4–6.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.2–11.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 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 Grayling Township
Is Grayling Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Grayling Township is healthier than 21% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #595 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Grayling Township?
CDC estimates 37.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 46.1%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Grayling Township?
Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital in Grayling, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Grayling Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Grayling Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–8.3%), 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 Grayling 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 Grayling 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.