On CDC estimates, Portage is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
Portage beats Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Portage. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Portage
Fewer Portage adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Michigan. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Portage
Portage runs below Michigan on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (6.3% vs 8.1%), diabetes (9.4% vs 11.9%) and stroke (3% vs 3.7%). Conditions ↓
Portage is an active town
Only 20.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. The town has 16 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Portage’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Portage’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portage is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, #109 of 701 in Michigan. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 87% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 54%.
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). Portage’s median household income is $83,212; among the 10,513 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$104K), it’s healthier than 88%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.2% of Portage adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Portage adults…
Portage runs below MI on 6 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.
16 miles of trails across 22 parks and preserves
Care in and near Portage
No hospital or community health center in Portage 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 Portage; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Portage adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Portage adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Portage 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.
Portage and the towns around it
Portage has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage | A− | 35.7% | 9.4% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Kalamazoo | C | 41.8% | 10.3% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Pavilion Township | C+ | 40.2% | 11.5% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Texas Township | A− | 36.1% | 9.6% | 11.8% | ZIP codes |
| Schoolcraft Township | B+ | 37% | 9.7% | 12.9% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Portage adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Portage
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Portage is better than Michigan on 18 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Portage’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Portage | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.6%13–16.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.8–13.2 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.9–18.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%31.8–39.8 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.3–10.6 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%29.2–34.6 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.1%32.3–38.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%24.7–29.2 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.9–12.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.7–10.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.5 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.3%5.7–7 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.8%6.3–9.6 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.6%18.1–23.2 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%15.2–20.1 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.1%21.9–30.7 | 34.7% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.2%4.5–6 | 6.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.2%77.6–82.7 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 75.3%72.5–78 | 68% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.9%87.5–90.3 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.4–79.4 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.7%68.6–76.6 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%73.7–85.3 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.5%24.8–30.4 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%28.9–37 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%18–23.8 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.5%9–12.1 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.4%7.2–9.8 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.1%5.3–7.1 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%5.3–6.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.2%7.9–10.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%23.7–29.1 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.9–13.4 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.4–4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Portage
Is Portage a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Portage is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #109 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 88%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Portage?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 39.8%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Portage?
Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, 6.2 miles in a straight line from Portage’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Portage have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–6%), 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 Portage more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Portage.
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.