Photo: Christopher L. Riley · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Homer is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Homer trails Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Homer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Homer
Homer is in the bottom 6% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Homer is healthier than only 6% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
COPD, obesity and depression run high in Homer
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.1%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 44.6% of adults have obesity, vs 36.2% across Michigan. Depression is also above the state: 30.8%, vs 25.7% across Michigan. In all, Homer runs above Michigan on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Homer
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (22.8%), 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 Homer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Homer’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 27% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Homer’s median household income is $54,737; among the 7,336 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 10%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Homer adults…
Homer runs above MI on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Homer residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Homer
No hospital or community health center in Homer 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 Homer; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Homer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Homer adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Homer runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Homer 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.
23.5% of Homer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Homer and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homer | D | 44.6% | 13.7% | 22.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Homer adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Homer
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Homer is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Homer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Homer | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.6%21.4–30.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.5–20.5 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19.1–24.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.6%37.6–51.4 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.8–15.7 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%35.3–43.2 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.1%33–41.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%29.1–35.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.3–14.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.6%7.7–9.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.2–9.4 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.1%10.2–14.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.9–5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.1%15.8–22.9 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.8%18.9–26.9 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.3%27.1–37.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.6–18.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%28.4–39.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.4–12.4 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74–80.9 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.9%58.4–65.3 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.2–85.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%73.2–78.9 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%59.3–69.1 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.7%65–79.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.8%26.6–34.9 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%30.3–41.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.2%21.1–29.3 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.1%17.7–26.6 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.2%12.5–18.1 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.5%9.7–13.4 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%9.3–13 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.5%18.9–27.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.1%34.9–45.7 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.5%15.6–21.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.1%17.2–23.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.4%10.6–14.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.6–6.4 | 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 Homer
Is Homer a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Homer is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 10%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Homer?
CDC estimates 44.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.6% and 51.4%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Homer?
Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall, 11.6 miles in a straight line from Homer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Homer have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–12.4%), 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 Homer 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 Homer.
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.