Muskegon Heights’ CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Muskegon Heights differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Muskegon Heights. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Muskegon Heights
More Muskegon Heights adults get no exercise
44.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Muskegon Heights
44.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 30.7% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Muskegon Heights
3 in 10 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (29.7%), 3 times the Michigan rate. Food insecurity (46.5% vs 15.4%) and housing insecurity (34.1% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 54.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% 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 Muskegon Heights’ likely range.
What’s behind Muskegon Heights’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Muskegon Heights is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Muskegon Heights’ estimates fall in the lowest 2% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 58.8% of adults, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
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). Muskegon Heights’ median household income is $35,239; among the 1,288 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$44K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Muskegon Heights compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 11.7% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Muskegon Heights adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
54.3% of Muskegon Heights adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Muskegon Heights adults…
Muskegon Heights runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Muskegon Heights
2 community health centers in Muskegon Heights, 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 Muskegon Heights; ≈ 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).
How Muskegon Heights adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Muskegon Heights runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Muskegon Heights 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.
Muskegon Heights and the towns around it
Muskegon Heights’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muskegon Heights | D− | 58.8% | 22.3% | 27.9% | CDC place |
| Norton Shores | B | 40.6% | 11.5% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Muskegon | D− | 49.9% | 15.6% | 22.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Muskegon Heights adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Muskegon Heights
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Muskegon Heights is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Muskegon Heights’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Muskegon Heights | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 38.3%34.8–41.8 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%18.4–22.7 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.7%21.4–26.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 58.8%52.7–65 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.3%20.1–24.7 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.1%45.4–53 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%31–38.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 33.5%30.5–36.8 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 15.3%13.7–17 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.8%12.5–15.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.9%6.4–7.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.7%26.2–35.7 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.9%24.9–31.1 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 44.9%40.1–49.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%9.7–14.1 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 50.1%44.2–56.1 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%11–14.9 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.9%78.9–84.7 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44.7%40.9–48.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%81–85 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.9–80.8 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.4%52.4–62.3 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.2%68–81.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.4%23.1–30.1 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.4%33.3–43.6 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.5%28.4–36.8 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 46.5%42.2–50.5 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 34.1%30.6–37.7 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 29.7%26.6–32.7 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 23.5%21.1–25.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 54.3%50.4–58.3 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.4%42.1–50.9 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.2%23.6–28.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.1%20.9–25.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.3%6.6–8.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 12.9%11.8–14 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17.9%16.3–19.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 10.2%9.4–11.1 | 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 Muskegon Heights
Is Muskegon Heights a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Muskegon Heights is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Muskegon Heights?
CDC estimates 58.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 52.7% and 65%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Muskegon Heights?
Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital in Muskegon, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Muskegon Heights’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Muskegon Heights have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11–14.9%), 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 Muskegon Heights more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Muskegon Heights.
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.