Elk Rapids Township Hall · Photo: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Nelson Township is healthier than 65%
Nelson Township trails Michigan on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49319, 49343. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nelson Township
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Nelson Township
The closest emergency room is Sheridan Community Hospital in Sheridan, 21 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Cherry Street Services is closer (12.5 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Nelson Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Nelson Township is healthier than 48%. Against the 10,164 towns with similar household incomes ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 65%. 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 Nelson Township’s likely range; Nelson Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 49319, 49343, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Nelson Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nelson Township is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #356 of 701 in Michigan. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 64% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Nelson Township’s median household income is $66,735; among the 10,164 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$83K), it’s healthier than 65%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Care in and near Nelson Township
No hospital or community health center in Nelson Township 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 Nelson Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Nelson Township adults…
Nelson Township runs above MI on 1 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.
2.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Nelson Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Nelson Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Nelson Township runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Nelson Township 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.
12.8% of Nelson Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Nelson Township and the towns around it
Nelson Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Township | B− | 36.5% | 11.3% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| Cedar Springs | C− | 39.5% | 11.9% | 20.3% | CDC place |
| Spencer Township | C+ | 37.2% | 12% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Pierson Township | C+ | 40.1% | 11.8% | 16.9% | ZIP codes |
| Courtland Township | A− | 33.6% | 9.6% | 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 Nelson Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Nelson Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nelson Township is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Nelson Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Nelson Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%16.6–21 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%13–16 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.5–20.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.5%32.2–41 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.3%10–12.6 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%32.4–38.1 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%30.8–36.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%26.8–31.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.4–12.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.5 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.7%8–11.4 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.2–18.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.6%20.6–26.7 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%15.2–20 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%30.1–37.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.9%5.8–8.1 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%76.5–81.7 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.1%65.4–70.6 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.7%85.1–88.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.3–78.4 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.5%65–71.7 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.1%68.3–78.9 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.1%26.2–32.1 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%28.2–35.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%20.1–26 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.8%11.9–15.8 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.8%9.3–12.3 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.8–8.8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.8%10.9–14.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%27.6–34 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.8–14.8 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.3–16.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.7–9.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4 | 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 Nelson Township
Is Nelson Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nelson Township is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #356 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 Nelson Township?
CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.2% and 41%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Nelson Township?
Sheridan Community Hospital in Sheridan, 21.0 miles in a straight line from Nelson Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Nelson Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–8.1%), 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 Nelson Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Nelson Township.
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.