Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Iron River is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Iron River trails Michigan on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Iron River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Iron River
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Iron River
1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.9%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.6%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Iron River runs above Michigan on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Iron River
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.9%), 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 Iron River’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Iron River’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Iron River is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns, #644 of 701 in Michigan. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 22% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Iron River’s median household income is $54,183; among the 7,181 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 24%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Iron River adults…
Iron River runs above MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
7.9 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Care in and near Iron River
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Iron River, 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 Iron River; ≈ 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 Iron River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Iron River adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Iron River 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.
18% of Iron River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Iron River and the towns around it
Iron River’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron River | D | 40.5% | 14.6% | 18.9% | CDC place |
| Iron River Township | C− | 39.3% | 15.6% | 17.4% | ZIP codes |
| Stambaugh Township | C− | 39.7% | 15.4% | 17.7% | ZIP codes |
| Caspian | — | — | — | — | |
| Bates Township | — | — | — | — |
Caspian and Bates Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Iron River adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Iron River
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Iron River is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 11; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Iron River’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Iron River | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24%20.6–27.8 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15–19.7 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.6–21.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.5%32.1–49 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.6%12.5–16.9 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.4%37.6–46.7 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%34.5–43.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.7%31.8–39.4 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12%10.6–13.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%10–12.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.4–10.8 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.9%10.2–13.7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%11–16.5 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%15.9–22.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.1%24.8–35.7 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.6%12–17.4 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.2%26.5–40.3 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.2–9.4 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.9–83.4 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.4%62.8–69.8 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%84.8–88.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.6–82.8 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.4%65.5–74.7 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%67.7–82.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.9%23.9–31.9 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.2%26.2–36.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%18.6–25.7 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.1%14.2–20.3 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%9.8–13.7 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%7.8–10.6 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18%14.9–21.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.9%33.7–44.1 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.2%16.3–22 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.8%14.6–19.1 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.1–11.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 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 Iron River
Is Iron River a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Iron River is healthier than 13% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #644 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 24%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Iron River?
CDC estimates 40.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.1% and 49%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Iron River?
Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics in Iron River, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Iron River’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Iron River have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–9.4%), 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 Iron River 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 Iron River.
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.