Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Kingsford is healthier than 81%
Kingsford differs from Michigan on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Kingsford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kingsford
Kingsford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Kingsford is healthier than 57%. Against the 9,315 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 81%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Kingsford
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Kingsford is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its B tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Breitung Township (C+). Around town ↓
Fewer Kingsford adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Michigan. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Kingsford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Kingsford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kingsford is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #286 of 701 in Michigan. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 63% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 47%).
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). Kingsford’s median household income is $61,635; among the 9,315 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 81%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Kingsford adults…
Kingsford runs above MI on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Kingsford is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Kingsford as about how healthy they are.
Kingsford and the towns around it
Kingsford has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsford | B | 36.5% | 11.6% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Breitung Township | C+ | 38.8% | 12.8% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Iron Mountain | C | 39.5% | 12.5% | 16.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.9% of Kingsford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Care in and near Kingsford
No hospital or community health center in Kingsford 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 Kingsford; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Kingsford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Kingsford adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Kingsford 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Kingsford adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Kingsford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Kingsford is better than Michigan on 4 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Kingsford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Kingsford | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.9%14.9–20.9 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.2–16.2 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.6–19 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.5%28.5–44.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%9.8–13.4 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.8%33.3–41.8 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.5–41.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.1%29.3–36.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%9.9–12.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.2–12.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.5%7.2–9.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.3–15.6 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.3–16.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%19.8–29.3 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13–18.9 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%24.6–37.3 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.6%4.6–7 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.2–84.3 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70%66.6–73.2 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.9%87.3–90.4 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.7%76.6–82.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%66.3–75.1 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%71.2–84.3 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.4%23.4–31.3 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.4%25.8–37.4 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.3%17.5–25.4 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.9%8.7–13.2 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%6.9–10.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.2–7.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.3–7.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%7.9–12 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.3%28.3–37.9 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.8%12.3–17.3 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%11.8–15.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.7–10 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3–4.1 | 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 Kingsford
Is Kingsford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Kingsford is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #286 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 Kingsford?
CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 44.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Kingsford?
Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Kingsford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Kingsford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7%), 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 Kingsford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kingsford.
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.