Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Howard City is healthier than 58%
Howard City differs from Michigan on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Howard City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howard City
Mental distress runs high in Howard City
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (20.9%), vs 17.6% across Michigan. Depression is above the state too: 29.9%, vs 25.7% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Howard City is behind on routine checkups
It trails Michigan on three of five routine checkups and screenings: dentist visits (62.6% vs 68%), cholesterol checks (83.3% vs 87.4%) and colon screening (64.1% vs 69%). Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Howard City
The closest emergency room is Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital in Big Rapids, 20.7 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Howard City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Howard City is healthier than 31%. Against the 7,323 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 58%. Health Grade ↓
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 Howard City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Howard City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howard City is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 74% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Howard City’s median household income is $54,688; among the 7,323 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 58%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Howard City adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Howard City runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Howard City 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Howard City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Care in and near Howard City
No hospital or community health center in Howard City 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 Howard City; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Howard City adults…
Howard City runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
0.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.9% of Howard City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Howard City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard City | C | 41.1% | 10.5% | 18.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Howard City adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Howard City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Howard City is better than Michigan on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Howard City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Howard City | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%17–23.9 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%12.9–17.2 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.9%18.3–23.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.1%33.8–48.7 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%8.9–12.1 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.3%29.4–37.1 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%29.9–37.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%24.7–30.9 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.8–13.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.1–8.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.4–10.3 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.2–18.5 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.1%14.8–21.5 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.9%21–30.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.1–21.6 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%31.3–43.8 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.3–10.6 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.9%74.1–81.3 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.6%58.9–66.3 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.3%80.5–85.9 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.6%69.6–75.4 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59.1–68.9 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.2%61.8–77.8 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.9%25.9–34 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.4%29.1–39.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%20.7–28.8 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.9%13.5–20.7 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.8%10.6–15.4 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.1%7.7–10.8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%7.8–11 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.9%12.8–19.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.2%29.2–39.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.2%11.8–16.5 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.3–20.7 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.4–5.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.5–11.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.3–4.5 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Howard City
Is Howard City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Howard City is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Howard City?
CDC estimates 41.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 48.7%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Howard City?
Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital in Big Rapids, 20.7 miles in a straight line from Howard City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Howard City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–10.6%), 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 Howard City 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 Howard City.
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.