Photo: Cityofhoughton1 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Houghton is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Houghton differs from Michigan on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Houghton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Houghton
Houghton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Houghton is healthier than 78%. Against the 3,477 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 99%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Houghton doesn’t win on
21.5% of adults binge drink, vs 15.9% across Michigan. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Cancer and stroke are less common in Houghton
Houghton runs below Michigan on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (3.9% vs 8.9%), stroke (1.7% vs 3.7%) and diabetes (5.5% vs 11.9%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%). Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Houghton
61.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 13% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Houghton is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A− tops all four graded neighbors. The closest is Adams Township (B). Around town ↓
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 Houghton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Houghton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Houghton is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #122 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Houghton’s median household income is $43,456; among the 3,477 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 99%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
20 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Houghton adults…
Houghton runs below MI on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Houghton residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Houghton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Houghton and the towns around it
Houghton has the best Health Grade of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton | A− | 30.5% | 5.5% | 11% | CDC place |
| Portage Township | B | 35.9% | 11.7% | 14.4% | ZIP codes |
| Stanton Township | B | 35.8% | 12.1% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Adams Township | B | 35.8% | 11.6% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Hurontown | — | — | — | — | |
| Franklin Township | B− | 35.6% | 11.4% | 14.5% | ZIP codes |
| Dollar Bay | — | — | — | — |
Hurontown: fewer than 1,000 residents. Dollar Bay: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Houghton
1 community health center in Houghton, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Houghton; ≈ 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 Houghton adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Houghton runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Houghton 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.
15.1% of Houghton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Houghton adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Houghton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Houghton is better than Michigan on 9 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Houghton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Houghton | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.9%12.5–21.2 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%8.6–12.9 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.9%18.5–27.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.5%23.5–38.6 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 5.5%4.7–6.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 20.3%17.3–23.6 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 21.7%18.7–25 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13.8%12–15.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.4%9.8–13.1 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.4%3–3.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4–5.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.7%1.5–1.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.5–15.8 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11%8–14.8 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.5%14.8–25 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.5%17.6–25.7 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.3%26.3–39 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%4.9–11.6 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.3%67.6–76.6 | 80.3% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.1%57.3–64.9 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 71.3%64.8–75.8 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 55.6%53.1–58.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.4–70.7 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.8%65–80 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.3%24.8–34.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.1%31.7–44.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.8%18.1–27.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.3%12–24.8 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%8.3–14.9 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%6.6–10.9 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%8.6–15.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%10.5–21.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%25.2–39.1 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.1%5.9–8.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.8%15–25.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.2–5.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.6–5.8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%7.4–12.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2–2.9 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Houghton
Is Houghton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Houghton is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #122 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Houghton?
CDC estimates 30.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.5% and 38.6%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Houghton?
Up Health System Portage in Hancock, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Houghton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Houghton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–11.6%), 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 Houghton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Houghton.
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.