Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Hamilton Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Van Buren County Michigan 1906 Hamilton TownshipPhoto: Compiled from official records and local inspection by W.H. Goss, County Surveyor. Drawn by M.K. Orton. · Public domain
≈ C−Health Grade
Health in Hamilton Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Hamilton Township is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns

Hamilton Township trails Michigan on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49045, 49047. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Hamilton Township

Health Grade

What’s behind Hamilton Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hamilton Township is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 31% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 20%).

CSelf-rated health22.3% · MI 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
C−Physical distress16.2% · MI 14% · U.S. 13%
CMental distress18.4% · MI 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity39.1% · MI 36.2% · U.S. 32.9%
CDiabetes13.6% · MI 11.9% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking16.9% smoke · MI 14.6% · U.S. 11.8%
CExercise28.4% · MI 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 23%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $49K–$81K (9,900)Healthier than 28%

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). Hamilton Township’s median household income is $64,792; among the 9,900 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$81K), it’s healthier than 28%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Hamilton Township could be anywhere from D to B. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 49045,49047), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Hamilton Township adults…

Hamilton Township runs above MI on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Hamilton Township adults have COPD
Michigan: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.8–11.1%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Getting care

Care in and near Hamilton Township

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

HNearest ERAscension Borgess Lee HospitalDowagiac · 9.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBronson Lakeview Hospital★★★★★ · 10.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLakeland Immediate Care CenterDowagiac · 11.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.6 mi
Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital
Dowagiac · not rated
ERRural critical access
10.4 mi
Bronson Lakeview Hospital
Paw Paw · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
11.4 mi
Lakeland Immediate Care Center
4 sites · nearest in Dowagiac
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
12.5 mi
Corewell Health Watervliet Hospital
Watervliet · not rated
ER
14.9 mi
Intercare Community Health Network
4 sites · nearest in Bangor
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
22.9 mi
Three Rivers Health
Three Rivers · ★★★★★
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Hamilton Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Hamilton Township itself
✓ Mental healthHamilton Township is not a shortage area

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 Hamilton 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 28.4%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.8%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 15.2%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 16.9%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Hamilton Township, betterHamilton Township, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Hamilton Township gets moving

0.9 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

80%Yearly checkupMI 80%
65%Dentist visitMI 68%
87%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
68%Colon screeningMI 69%
76%MammogramMI 77%
79%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Hamilton Township 8.5% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection

How Hamilton Township adults are doing

About the same as Michigan on each measure.

1 in 3Hamilton Township adults feel lonely
31.8% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Hamilton Township adults lack social or emotional support
22.8% · MI 23.1% · About the same as MI
1 in 4Hamilton Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.5% · MI 25.7% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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
Hamilton Township adults worry about having enough food
16.4% · MI 15.4%
About the same as MI
1 in 8
Hamilton Township adults worry about keeping their housing
12.2% · MI 11.9%
About the same as MI
1 in 11
Hamilton Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.9% · MI 8.7%
About the same as MI
1 in 11
Hamilton Township adults lack reliable transportation
8.7% · MI 8.3%
About the same as MI

15.6% of Hamilton Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Around town

Hamilton Township and the towns around it

Hamilton Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 graded towns around it.

Keeler Township: 41.4%Wayne Township: 37.4%Decatur Township: 38.9%Lawrence Township: 41.4%Silver Creek Township: 37.3%Hartford Township: 43.6%Bainbridge Township: 44.8%Dowagiac: 39.2%Volinia Township: 37.8%LaGrange Township: 37.3%Porter Township: 37.6%Paw Paw Township: 38.2%Arlington Township: 41.8%Hamilton Township: 39.1%Hamilton TownshipKeeler TownshipWayne TownshipDecatur TownshipLawrence TownshipAscension Borgess Lee Hospital · Dowagiac · 9.6 miHBronson Lakeview Hospital · Paw Paw · 10.4 mi · 5★ MedicareHCorewell Health Watervliet Hospital · Watervliet · 12.5 miHCass Family Clinic Dowagiac · Dowagiac · 11.4 mi+Intercare Bangor · Bangor · 14.9 mi+
Healthier than MINear MILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#8 of 14 towns on this map, healthiest first
Wayne Township37.4%
Decatur Township38.9%
Hamilton Township39.1%
Keeler Township41.4%
Lawrence Township41.4%
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
Hamilton TownshipC−39.1%13.6%16.9%ZIP codes
Keeler TownshipD41.4%15.1%19.5%ZIP codes
Wayne TownshipC−37.4%13.5%17.5%ZIP codes
Decatur TownshipC38.9%13.3%16.4%ZIP codes
Lawrence TownshipD41.4%15%19.1%ZIP codes

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

35.4%

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

Walking or climbing stairs16.9%
Thinking or memory16.2%
Hearing8.8%
Errands alone9.9%
Vision5.7%
Dressing or bathing4.5%
Michigan

Every CDC estimate for Hamilton Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hamilton Township is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Hamilton Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Hamilton TownshipMIU.S.vs MI
Overall health
Fair or poor health22.3%19.6–25.119.4%19.4%Worse
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)16.2%14.4–18.114%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.4%16.5–20.517.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity39.1%32.4–46.336.2%32.9%About the same
Diabetes13.6%11.9–15.411.9%12%About the same
High blood pressure38.8%35–42.936.7%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)37.7%33.7–41.735.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis33.3%30.1–36.729.1%25.3%Worse
Asthma11.8%10.6–13.211.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.9%9.1–10.98.9%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease8.2%7.4–9.17%6.4%Worse
COPD9.9%8.8–11.18.1%6.3%Worse
Stroke4.1%3.8–4.53.7%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)14.5%12–17.210.2%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.9%14.6–19.314.6%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work28.4%24.2–32.924.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking15.2%12.8–1815.9%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours33.8%28.5–39.934.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.5%7.3–9.96.9%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year80.3%77.1–83.280.3%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.9%61.7–68.368%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.2%85.7–88.887.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.6%76–81.277.6%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.2%63.7–72.669%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)75.9%69.1–8276.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression27.5%24–31.325.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely31.8%27.3–36.632.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.8%19.7–26.323.1%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food16.4%14.2–18.815.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing12.2%10.6–1411.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off8.9%7.8–10.18.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.7%7.7–9.88.3%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)15.6%13.4–17.914.3%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability35.4%31.4–39.631.1%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs16.9%14.8–19.114%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering16.2%14.3–18.114.3%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.8%7.9–9.87.3%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty5.7%5.2–6.34.9%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone9.9%8.9–11.18.6%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.5%4–53.8%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 Hamilton Township

Is Hamilton Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hamilton Township is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 28%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Hamilton Township?

CDC estimates 39.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 46.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Hamilton Township?

Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital in Dowagiac, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Hamilton Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Hamilton Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–9.9%), 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.