On CDC estimates, Rockford is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Rockford differs from Michigan on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 13 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rockford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rockford
Against towns with similar incomes, Rockford’s lead shrinks
Rockford is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, but 58% of the 7,599 towns with similar household incomes ($80K–$134K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Rockford 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 ↓
Stroke and heart disease are less common in Rockford
Rockford runs below Michigan on four chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.8% vs 3.7%), heart disease (5.4% vs 7%) and diabetes (9.4% vs 11.9%). Conditions ↓
Rockford is an active town
Only 19.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. 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 Rockford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Rockford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rockford is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns, #148 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 87% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
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). Rockford’s median household income is $107,121; among the 7,599 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$134K), it’s healthier than 58%, 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.
9.8% of Rockford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Out of every 100 Rockford adults…
Rockford runs below MI on 6 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
5.2 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Care in and near Rockford
No hospital or community health center in Rockford 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 Rockford; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rockford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Rockford adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Rockford runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Rockford 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.
Rockford and the towns around it
Rockford’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | A− | 34.2% | 9.4% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Algoma Township | A− | 34.1% | 9.8% | 13.3% | ZIP codes |
| Courtland Township | A− | 33.6% | 9.6% | 12.7% | ZIP codes |
| Cannon Township | A | 32% | 9.1% | 10.6% | ZIP codes |
| Plainfield Township | A− | 33.1% | 9.7% | 11.9% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rockford adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rockford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rockford is better than Michigan on 13 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Rockford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rockford | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.6%12.8–18.7 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%10.8–14.7 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%14.8–19.6 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.2%29.5–39 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.1–10.9 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.4%28.2–34.6 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.2%28.1–34.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.5%23.8–29.3 | 29.1% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–9.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.6%5.3–8 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.3 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.8%8.8–13.1 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.4%10.5–16.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.9%16.3–23.6 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.2%15.4–21 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%28.2–36 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.3–7.6 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.2%75.9–82 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.1%69.3–74.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%85.5–89.7 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.5%71.2–77.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71%67.1–74.6 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%69.5–80.9 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.5%26.1–33 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%26.6–35.3 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%17.8–24.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11%8.3–14 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.2%7.2–11.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.2–7.9 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.2–7.7 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%7.1–12.7 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%22.6–30.4 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.8%8.8–13 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.2%11–15.5 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.5–7.2 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.1–4.4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.1–8.7 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.4–3.5 | 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 Rockford
Is Rockford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rockford is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health, #148 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rockford?
CDC estimates 34.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.5% and 39%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rockford?
Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, 12.8 miles in a straight line from Rockford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rockford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.3–7.6%), 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 Rockford 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 Rockford.
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.