Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0Saginaw’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Saginaw differs from Michigan on 27 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Saginaw. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Saginaw
More Saginaw adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (41.5%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Saginaw
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (39.3%), more than twice the Michigan rate. Utility shut-off threats (23% vs 8.7%) and no reliable transportation (19.2% vs 8.3%) are higher too. 42.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Saginaw
51.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 24.8% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
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 Saginaw’s likely range.
What’s behind Saginaw’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Saginaw is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #695 of 701 in Michigan. All seven of Saginaw’s estimates fall in the lowest 3% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is mental distress: 22.5% 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). Saginaw’s median household income is $38,579; among the 2,009 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Saginaw compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (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.
8.6 miles of trails across 20 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.
42.5% of Saginaw adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Keeping up with care
Share of Saginaw adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Out of every 100 Saginaw adults…
Saginaw runs below MI on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Saginaw
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Saginaw, 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 Saginaw; ≈ 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 Saginaw adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Saginaw runs above Michigan.
2 in 5 Saginaw 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.
Saginaw and the towns around it
Saginaw’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw | D− | 45.6% | 19.3% | 23.6% | CDC place |
| Spaulding Township | D− | 46.7% | 21.9% | 23.2% | ZIP 48601 |
| Buena Vista Township | D− | 46.8% | 22% | 23.2% | ZIP 48601 |
| Saginaw Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Buena Vista | — | — | — | — | |
| Bridgeport Township | D | 39.2% | 16.6% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
| James Township | B− | 33.3% | 13.1% | 14.3% | ZIP 48609 |
| Carrollton Township | D | 37.3% | 13.4% | 17.9% | ZIP codes |
Saginaw Township: not graded. Buena Vista: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Saginaw adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Saginaw
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Saginaw is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Saginaw’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Saginaw | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.6%31.4–37.7 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.9–22 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.5%20.2–24.8 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.6%39–51.8 | 36.2% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.3%17.2–21.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.5%41.6–49.2 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%30.6–38 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.5%29.4–35.5 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.1%12.5–15.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6–7.2 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%8.1–9.8 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.7%11.5–13.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.4–6.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24.8%21–28.8 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 23.6%21–26.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 41.5%36.9–46 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10.1–14.8 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.7%37–48.5 | 34.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.4%11.7–15.2 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%77.9–83.9 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 51.2%47.5–54.8 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80.8–84.6 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.9–80.7 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.3%58.4–67.9 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%67.9–81.1 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.2%23.7–30.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.4%33.2–43.5 | 32.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.5%26.5–34.3 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 39.3%35.8–42.6 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.1%24.2–30 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 23%20.5–25.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 19.2%17.3–21.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 42.5%39.1–45.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.8%39.6–47.9 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.7%21.4–26 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.8%19.6–24 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–8.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 11%10.2–11.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.8%14.3–17.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.4%7.8–9 | 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 Saginaw
Is Saginaw a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Saginaw is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #695 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Saginaw?
CDC estimates 45.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 39% and 51.8%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Saginaw?
Covenant Medical Center in Saginaw, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Saginaw’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Saginaw have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.7–15.2%), 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 Saginaw more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Saginaw.
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.