Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, South Branch Township is healthier than 67%
South Branch Township differs from Michigan on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 48653, 49738. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Branch Township
South Branch Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, South Branch Township is healthier than 34%. Against the 6,560 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 67%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in South Branch Township
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.5%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.8%), vs 7% across Michigan. COPD is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 8.1% across Michigan. In all, South Branch Township runs above Michigan on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and cancer, heart disease and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in South Branch Township, and more people treating it
42.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 82.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fewer South Branch Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Michigan. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults 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 South Branch Township’s likely range; South Branch Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 48653, 49738, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind South Branch Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Branch Township is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 61% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 19%).
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). South Branch Township’s median household income is $52,292; among the 6,560 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 67%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where South Branch Township compares well: cholesterol check in 5 years, 89.8% (U.S. 87.1%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82.2% (U.S. 76.5%); colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75), 73.7% (U.S. 65.5%).
Out of every 100 South Branch Township adults…
South Branch Township runs above MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
South Branch Township is an older town: 35% 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 South Branch Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Branch Township 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.
12.8% of South Branch Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Care in and near South Branch Township
No hospital or community health center in South Branch Township 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 South Branch Township; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
209 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How South Branch Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 in 10 South Branch Township 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.
South Branch Township and the towns around it
South Branch Township has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Township | C | 37.2% | 14.4% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Grayling Township | C− | 37.6% | 14.7% | 17.8% | ZIP 49738 |
| Au Sable Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Big Creek Township | D | 39.1% | 17.1% | 20.2% | ZIP codes |
| Beaver Creek Township | C | 37.3% | 14.5% | 16.6% | ZIP codes |
| Lovells Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Higgins Township | C− | 38.9% | 15.5% | 17.2% | ZIP codes |
Au Sable Township and Lovells 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 South Branch Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Branch Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Branch Township is better than Michigan on 7 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside South Branch Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Branch Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.3%18.9–23.8 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.6–18 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.7–18.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.2%30.3–44.6 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.7–16.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.6%38.7–46.7 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.2%36.2–44.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37%33.6–40.5 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.3–12.7 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.5%11.5–13.6 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%9–10.7 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%10.1–14.4 | 10.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13.9–18 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27%23–31.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.2–17.1 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31%25.7–36.8 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%5.2–7.2 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.9%80.1–85.4 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.8%65.8–71.7 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.6–91 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82.2%79.7–84.5 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.7%69.7–77.4 | 69% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.1%69.5–81.8 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.3%22.9–29.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.1%25.8–34.6 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%18–23.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%11.1–14.8 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.2%8–10.6 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%6.1–8 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%6.2–7.8 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.8%11.1–14.8 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%31.3–39.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.8%15.8–19.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.7–15.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.4–11.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.9–5.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.5–10.3 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 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 South Branch Township
Is South Branch Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Branch Township is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Branch Township?
CDC estimates 37.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 44.6%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Branch Township?
Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital in Grayling, 14.0 miles in a straight line from South Branch Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Branch Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–7.2%), 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 South Branch Township 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 South Branch Township.
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.