On CDC estimates, Reading is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Reading trails Michigan on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Reading. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Reading
Depression is more common in Reading
1 in 3 adults have been diagnosed with depression (32.3%), vs 25.7% across Michigan. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 21.7%, vs 17.6% across Michigan. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Reading
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.2%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Reading
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.1%), vs 15.4% across Michigan. No reliable transportation (10.8% vs 8.3%) and utility shut-off threats (11.3% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 22.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Reading is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Reading is healthier than 14%. Against the 5,542 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 36%. 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 Reading’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Reading’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Reading is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 44% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Reading’s median household income is $49,342; among the 5,542 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 36%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
How Reading adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Reading runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Reading 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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
22.4% of Reading adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Reading adults…
Reading runs above MI on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Reading
No hospital or community health center in Reading 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 Reading; ≈ 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 Reading adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Reading and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | D | 39.9% | 12.5% | 21.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Reading adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Reading
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Reading is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Reading’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Reading | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.1%20–28.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.2–19.2 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.7%18.7–24.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%31.9–48.3 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.5%10.6–14.5 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%32.9–42.1 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%31.5–40.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30%26.3–33.6 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.7%11.1–14.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.3–9.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.4–8.3 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.8%9.1–12.6 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%9.8–15.4 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.2%17.1–25.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.6%23.9–35.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%13.7–20.7 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%28.3–43.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.4%6.2–10.8 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%73.4–81.4 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%57.2–65.7 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%79.8–85.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%70.6–77.3 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%56.8–68.7 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%62–80.6 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 32.3%27.7–37.1 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%29.1–40.7 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%19.3–28.1 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%16.4–26.1 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.4%11.4–17.6 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.3%9.2–13.4 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%8.8–12.9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.4%17.7–27.4 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37%31.2–42.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%13.9–19.3 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.2%16–22.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.7–8.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%9.6–13.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.2–5.7 | 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 Reading
Is Reading a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Reading is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 36%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Reading?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 48.3%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Reading?
Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, 7.8 miles in a straight line from Reading’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Reading have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.2–10.8%), 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 Reading more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Reading.
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.