Where Sand Lake residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Sand Lake, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sand Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sand Lake
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Sand Lake
1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.5%), vs 7% across Michigan. 1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.9%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 5.9%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Sand Lake runs above Michigan on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 39% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Sand Lake, and more people treating it
48.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 84% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
More Sand Lake adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.5%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. There are 14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. 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 Sand Lake’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Sand Lake adults…
Sand Lake runs above MI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Sand Lake is an older town: 39% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Sand Lake as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sand Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Sand Lake
No hospital or community health center in Sand Lake 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 Sand Lake; ≈ 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 Sand Lake adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 in 10 Sand Lake 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.9% of Sand Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Sand Lake and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tawas Township | C | 37.2% | 14.6% | 16.5% | ZIP 48763 |
| Wilber Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Grant Township | C− | 38.1% | 15.6% | 17.7% | ZIP codes |
Wilber Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sand Lake adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Sand Lake
Why doesn’t Sand Lake have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Sand Lake.
What hospital is closest to Sand Lake?
Tawas St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City, 8.2 miles in a straight line from Sand Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Sand Lake?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Hale Clinic- Sterling Area Health Center in Hale, 7.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sand Lake.
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. 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.