On CDC estimates, Norton Shores is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns
Norton Shores differs from Michigan on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Norton Shores. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Norton Shores
Health varies a lot right around Norton Shores
Grades next door run from Spring Lake Township (A−) to Muskegon Heights (D−). Norton Shores is a B. Around town ↓
Cancer runs high in Norton Shores
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. Conditions ↓
Fewer Norton Shores 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 Norton Shores’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Norton Shores’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norton Shores is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, #302 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 17%).
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). Norton Shores’ median household income is $76,579; among the 10,828 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$96K), it’s healthier than 61%, about where its income would put it.
Norton Shores and the towns around it
Norton Shores’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton Shores | B | 40.6% | 11.5% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Muskegon Heights | D− | 58.8% | 22.3% | 27.9% | CDC place |
| Roosevelt Park | B− | 41.7% | 10.4% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Fruitport Township | C | 42.8% | 13% | 16.7% | ZIP codes |
| Muskegon | D− | 49.9% | 15.6% | 22.1% | CDC place |
| Spring Lake Township | A− | 33.3% | 10.5% | 11.1% | ZIP 49456 |
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.
10.9% of Norton Shores adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Norton Shores adults…
Norton Shores runs above MI on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Norton Shores
1 hospital in Norton Shores, 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 Norton Shores; ≈ 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.
38 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Norton Shores adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Norton Shores adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 in 10 Norton Shores 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 Norton Shores adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Norton Shores
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Norton Shores is better than Michigan on 4 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Norton Shores’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Norton Shores | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18%15.7–20.5 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.1–15.3 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.7–18.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.6%34.6–47.1 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10–13.2 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%31.7–39.2 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%32.8–40.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2%28.1–34.5 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.3–13 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.5–11.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–7.9 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8%7.1–9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.1%7.3–11.2 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8%11.9–16 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24%20.4–27.9 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14.1–19.9 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%29.2–40 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6%5.1–7.1 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%77.5–83.5 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.8%67.6–73.9 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.7%87.3–90.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.3%75.5–81 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.7%66.3–74.9 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.6%71.8–84.3 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27%23.6–30.7 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.2%25.9–34.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%17.5–23.6 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%9.8–13.4 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.4%8.1–11 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6–8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%5.8–7.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.9%9.4–12.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.6%26.9–34.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.5%11.8–15.4 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11.7–14.9 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.7 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.2–9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 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 Norton Shores
Is Norton Shores a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Norton Shores is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #302 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 61%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Norton Shores?
CDC estimates 40.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.6% and 47.1%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Norton Shores?
Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital in Muskegon, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Norton Shores’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Norton Shores have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–7.1%), 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 Norton Shores 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 Norton Shores.
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.