Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ishpeming is healthier than 61%
Ishpeming trails Michigan on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ishpeming. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ishpeming
Every town around Ishpeming scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of Ishpeming’s C, from Tilden Township (C+) to Negaunee (B+). Around town ↓
COPD runs high in Ishpeming
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.8%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. Conditions ↓
Ishpeming is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ishpeming is healthier than 31%. Against the 6,711 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 61%. 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 Ishpeming’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Ishpeming’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ishpeming is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns, #497 of 701 in Michigan. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 52% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). Ishpeming’s median household income is $52,754; among the 6,711 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 61%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Ishpeming and the towns around it
Ishpeming’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishpeming | C | 39.5% | 12.3% | 17% | CDC place |
| Ishpeming Township | B | 37.4% | 11.2% | 14.7% | ZIP codes |
| Tilden Township | C+ | 38.7% | 11.9% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Negaunee | B+ | 36.1% | 10.4% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| West Ishpeming | — | — | — | — |
West Ishpeming: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Ishpeming adults…
Ishpeming runs above MI on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ishpeming
1 hospital in Ishpeming, 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 Ishpeming; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
72 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Ishpeming adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Ishpeming adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Ishpeming 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.
15.5% of Ishpeming adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ishpeming adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ishpeming
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ishpeming is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Ishpeming’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ishpeming | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.6%17.9–23.4 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.8–17.6 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%16.9–21.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%32.4–46.8 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.7–14.2 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.5%33.5–41.5 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.6%31.6–39.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6%28.3–35 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12%10.6–13.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.9%8.9–10.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.9%14.1–20 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17%14.6–19.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%21.2–29.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%13.9–19.9 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.4%26–37 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.6–8.1 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.7%77.4–83.6 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.9%61.6–68.1 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%84.4–88 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%75.4–80.7 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%64.6–73.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%68.7–81.8 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.8%25–32.7 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%26.4–36 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%18.5–25.3 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.1%12.7–17.9 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.3–13 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.4–10 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.5%13–18.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%30.2–38.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.6–17.7 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.8–9.8 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.8–11.1 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.8 | 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 Ishpeming
Is Ishpeming a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ishpeming is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #497 of 701 in Michigan. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ishpeming?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 46.8%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ishpeming?
Bell Hospital in Ishpeming, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Ishpeming’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ishpeming have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.1%), 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 Ishpeming 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 Ishpeming.
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.