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IndependenceMITownshipHallPhoto: Jordano53 · CC BY-SA 4.0
AHealth Grade
Health in Independence Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Independence Township is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns

Independence Township beats Michigan on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 48348, 48346. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Independence Township

Independence Township is an active town

Only 17.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. The town has 19 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves. Habits ↓

Independence Township adults report less mental distress

Frequent mental distress (15.4% vs 17.6%), lack of emotional support (19.8% vs 23.1%) and depression (22.6% vs 25.7%) all run below Michigan. Mind & connection ↓

COPD and stroke are less common in Independence Township

Independence Township runs below Michigan on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (6.1% vs 8.1%), stroke (2.8% vs 3.7%) and diabetes (9.3% vs 11.9%). Conditions ↓

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 Independence Township’s likely range; Independence Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 48348, 48346, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.

Health Grade

What’s behind Independence Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence Township is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns, #60 of 701 in Michigan. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 92% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 76%.

ASelf-rated health14.1% · MI 19.4% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress11.6% · MI 14% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress15.4% · MI 17.6% · U.S. 15.9%
A−Obesity31.1% · MI 36.2% · U.S. 32.9%
ADiabetes9.3% · MI 11.9% · U.S. 12%
A−Smoking11.4% smoke · MI 14.6% · U.S. 11.8%
AExercise17.9% · MI 24.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 88%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (701)Healthier than 92%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $86K–$143K (6,496)Healthier than 80%

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). Independence Township’s median household income is $114,699; among the 6,496 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($86K–$143K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Independence Township could be anywhere from B+ to A+. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 48348,48346), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan

Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.

Get no exercise 17.9%MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 29.8%MI 34.7%
Binge drink 17%MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettes 11.4%MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Independence Township, betterIndependence Township, worseAbout the sameMichigan
Where Independence Township gets moving

19 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Independence Township adults are doing

On 3 of 4 measures, Independence Township does better than Michigan.

3 in 10Independence Township adults feel lonely
30.1% · MI 32.4% · About the same as MI
1 in 5Independence Township adults lack social or emotional support
19.8% · MI 23.1% · Better than MI
1 in 4Independence Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.6% · MI 25.7% · Better than MI
1 in 6Independence Township adults are in frequent mental distress
15.4% · MI 17.6% · Better than MI
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Independence 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.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Independence Township adults…

Independence Township runs below MI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

6 of every 100 Independence Township adults have COPD
Michigan: 8 in 100 · better · likely 5.4–6.9%
Better than MIWorseAbout the sameMichigan
Getting care

Care in and near Independence Township

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

HNearest ERMclaren OaklandPontiac · 9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyBeaumont Hospital, Troy★★★★★ · 17.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careOakland Integrated Healthcare NetworkPontiac · 6.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
6.3 mi
Oakland Integrated Healthcare Network
7 sites · nearest in Pontiac
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
9 mi
Mclaren Oakland
Pontiac · ★★★★★
ER
9.6 mi
The Wellness Plan Medical Center - Pontiac
Pontiac · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
10.9 mi
Trinity Health Oakland Hospital
Pontiac · ★★★★★
ER
12 mi
Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital
Commerce Township · ★★★★★
ER
13.1 mi
Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital
Rochester · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careIndependence Township is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careIndependence Township is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthIndependence 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 Independence Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

81%Yearly checkupMI 80%
76%Dentist visitMI 68%
90%Cholesterol checkMI 87%
72%Colon screeningMI 69%
76%MammogramMI 77%
78%Taking BP medsMI 78%
1 in 21
working-age adults has no health insurance
Independence Township 4.8% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
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 11
Independence Township adults worry about having enough food
9.2% · MI 15.4%
Better than MI
1 in 13
Independence Township adults worry about keeping their housing
7.6% · MI 11.9%
Better than MI
1 in 19
Independence Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.4% · MI 8.7%
Better than MI
1 in 19
Independence Township adults lack reliable transportation
5.3% · MI 8.3%
Better than MI

7.3% of Independence Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Around town

Independence Township and the towns around it

Independence Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 graded towns around it.

Waterford Township: 33.6%Springfield Township: 32.1%Orion Township: 30.2%Brandon Township: 32.1%Auburn Hills: 31.4%Lake Angelus: 30%West Bloomfield Township: 29.9%Pontiac: 43.5%White Lake Township: 33.2%Sylvan Lake: 30.7%Groveland Township: 32.9%Rose Township: 33.4%Oakland Township: 28.4%Oxford Township: 31.8%Rochester Hills: 27.9%Hadley Township: 34.1%Bloomfield Township: 27.3%Independence Township: 31.1%Independence TownshipWaterford TownshipSpringfield TownshipOrion TownshipBrandon TownshipAuburn HillsMclaren Oakland · Pontiac · 9 mi · 2★ MedicareHTrinity Health Oakland Hospital · Pontiac · 10.9 mi · 2★ MedicareHHuron Valley-Sinai Hospital · Commerce Township · 12 mi · 3★ MedicareHAscension Providence Rochester Hospital · Rochester · 13.1 mi · 3★ MedicareHBaldwin Family Medicine Center · Pontiac · 6.3 mi+The Wellness Plan Medical Center - Pontiac · Pontiac · 9.6 mi+
Healthier than MINear MILess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#8 of 18 towns on this map, healthiest first
Orion Township30.2%
Independence Township31.1%
Auburn Hills31.4%
Springfield Township32.1%
Brandon Township32.1%
Waterford Township33.6%
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
Independence TownshipA31.1%9.3%11.4%ZIP codes
Waterford TownshipB+33.6%10.6%14%ZIP codes
Orion TownshipA30.2%8.4%10.4%ZIP codes
Springfield TownshipA−32.1%9.9%12.4%ZIP codes
Brandon TownshipA−32.1%9.6%12.6%ZIP codes
Auburn HillsA−31.4%8.5%12%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

23%

of Independence Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs10%
Thinking or memory11.4%
Hearing6.1%
Errands alone6.3%
Vision3.4%
Dressing or bathing2.7%
Michigan

Every CDC estimate for Independence Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence Township is better than Michigan on 23 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Independence Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Independence TownshipMIU.S.vs MI
Overall health
Fair or poor health14.1%12.5–15.919.4%19.4%Better
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)11.6%10.3–1314%13%Better
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.4%13.8–17.117.6%15.9%Better
Conditions
Obesity31.1%27.6–34.636.2%32.9%Better
Diabetes9.3%8.2–10.411.9%12%Better
High blood pressure33%30.5–35.636.7%34.4%Better
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)34.6%31.9–37.335.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis25.4%23.3–27.729.1%25.3%Better
Asthma10.8%9.7–12.111.5%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.4%8.6–10.28.9%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease5.8%5.3–6.47%6.4%Better
COPD6.1%5.4–6.98.1%6.3%Better
Stroke2.8%2.6–33.7%3.4%Better
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)6.3%5.1–7.710.2%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11.4%9.7–13.214.6%11.8%Better
No exercise outside work17.9%15.6–20.424.9%24.7%Better
Binge drinking17%14.8–19.315.9%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours29.8%26.9–33.134.7%36%Better
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)4.8%4–5.86.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year80.6%78.1–82.980.3%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year76%73.8–78.368%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years90.1%88.7–91.387.4%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)77.9%75.2–80.377.6%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)72%68.9–75.269%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)75.8%70.9–80.676.9%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression22.6%20.2–25.125.7%20.6%Better
Feel lonely30.1%26.5–33.732.4%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support19.8%17.1–22.623.1%23.6%Better
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.2%7.7–10.815.4%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing7.6%6.4–8.911.9%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.4%4.6–6.38.7%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation5.3%4.6–6.18.3%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)7.3%6.1–8.614.3%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability23%20.6–25.731.1%30.1%Lower
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs10%8.8–11.314%13.6%Lower
Difficulty concentrating or remembering11.4%10.1–12.814.3%13.9%Lower
Hearing difficulty6.1%5.4–6.87.3%6.7%Lower
Vision difficulty3.4%3–3.74.9%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone6.3%5.5–78.6%7.9%Lower
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.7%2.5–33.8%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 Independence Township

Is Independence Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence Township is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health, #60 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Independence Township?

CDC estimates 31.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 34.6%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Independence Township?

Mclaren Oakland in Pontiac, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Independence Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in Independence Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 4.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4–5.8%), 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 Independence Township 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 Independence 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.