West Jefferson Avenue-Rouge River Bridge · Photo: Andrew Jameson · CC BY-SA 3.0River Rouge’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
River Rouge differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for River Rouge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in River Rouge
More River Rouge adults get no exercise
43.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in River Rouge
45.7% 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 River Rouge
46.4% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 15.4% across Michigan (3 times the Michigan rate). Utility shut-off threats (27.8% vs 8.7%) and housing insecurity (33.4% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 51.3% 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 River Rouge’s likely range.
What’s behind River Rouge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Rouge is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #699 of 701 in Michigan. All seven of River Rouge’s estimates fall in the lowest 2% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 24.9% of adults, against 17.6% across Michigan and 15.9% 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). River Rouge’s median household income is $41,053; among the 2,696 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$51K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where River Rouge compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12.4% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of River Rouge 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.
51.3% of River Rouge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 River Rouge adults…
River Rouge runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of River Rouge residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near River Rouge
No hospital or community health center in River Rouge 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 River Rouge; ≈ 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 River Rouge adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, River Rouge runs above Michigan.
4 in 10 River Rouge 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.
River Rouge and the towns around it
River Rouge’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Rouge | D− | 46.8% | 20.1% | 27.6% | CDC place |
| Detroit | D− | 45.6% | 19.2% | 21.8% | CDC place |
| Ecorse | D− | 42.7% | 17.4% | 23.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of River Rouge adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for River Rouge
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, River Rouge is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside River Rouge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | River Rouge | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 38.6%35.4–41.7 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.4%19.4–23.5 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.9%22.8–27.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.8%43.2–50.7 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.1%18.4–22.1 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.7%44.2–49.4 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.6%34.1–39.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.4%30.2–34.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.2%12.8–15.6 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.3–6.4 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.6–10.3 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 14.5%13.1–16 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.5%5.9–7 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.7%26.8–34.9 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.6%24.8–30.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.5%39.9–47.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.8–14.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 48.2%44.9–51.5 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%12.8–17 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.8%77.5–82.1 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.7%42.9–48.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.1%80.1–83.9 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%74.5–78.8 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.3%53.7–60.9 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72%66.8–77.1 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.5%24–29.2 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.5%33.1–40.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.7%28.7–34.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 46.4%42.9–49.9 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 33.4%30.5–36.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 27.8%25.4–30.4 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 23.2%21.1–25.5 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 51.3%47.8–54.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.8%42.5–49.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.3%23–27.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.1%20.9–25.3 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–8.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 12.7%11.6–13.8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17.6%15.9–19.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.8%8.9–10.7 | 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 River Rouge
Is River Rouge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, River Rouge is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #699 of 701 in Michigan. 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 River Rouge?
CDC estimates 46.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 43.2% and 50.7%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to River Rouge?
Wyandotte Hospital and Medical Center in Wyandotte, 4.6 miles in a straight line from River Rouge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in River Rouge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.8–17%), 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 River Rouge 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 River Rouge.
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.