Photo: Hoff1606 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Lowell is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns
Lowell differs from Michigan on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lowell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lowell
What’s behind Lowell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lowell is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, #305 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 73% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 24%).
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). Lowell’s median household income is $72,875; among the 10,714 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$91K), it’s healthier than 65%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Lowell adults…
Lowell runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lowell
No hospital or community health center in Lowell 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 Lowell; ≈ 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.
2.5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Lowell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Lowell adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Lowell runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Lowell 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.
12.7% of Lowell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Lowell and the towns around it
Lowell’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | B− | 35.7% | 10.6% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Vergennes Township | A− | 34.5% | 9.8% | 13% | ZIP codes |
| Lowell Township | A− | 34.2% | 9.8% | 12.7% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lowell adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lowell
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lowell is better than Michigan on 1 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Lowell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lowell | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.2%15.3–21.5 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.1–16.1 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.1–21 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%30.7–40.7 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.1–12.2 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.5%30.1–36.8 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.8%28.6–35 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.9%24.9–30.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–9.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.5–7.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.9%6.5–9.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.3%2.8–3.8 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%7.1–10.6 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.1–18.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.9%18.9–27 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.9–20.5 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%29.4–37.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.2–9.2 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.4–81.7 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.9%63.8–69.8 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%83.7–88.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%72–77.9 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%63.7–71.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%68.6–80.7 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.2%26.6–33.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%28–36.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.1–26.5 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.7%10.7–17.3 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%8.8–13.4 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.4–9.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.5–9.4 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.7%9.6–16 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.3%26.2–34.5 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.8%10.7–15 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.1%12.8–17.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.9–5.3 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.3–10.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3–4.2 | 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 Lowell
Is Lowell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lowell is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #305 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 65%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lowell?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 40.7%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lowell?
Sparrow Ionia Hospital in Ionia, 13.8 miles in a straight line from Lowell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lowell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–9.2%), 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 Lowell 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 Lowell.
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.