Photo: Nanamac47 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, South Haven is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns
South Haven differs from Michigan on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Haven. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Haven
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in South Haven
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.6%), vs 8.9% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.8%), vs 7% across Michigan. Arthritis is also above the state: 39.5%, vs 29.1% across Michigan. In all, South Haven runs above Michigan on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 42% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and cancer, heart disease and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in South Haven, and more people treating it
45.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 83.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
South Haven keeps up with checkups
It beats Michigan on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.8% vs 80.3%) and cholesterol checks (91% vs 87.4%). 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 South Haven’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind South Haven’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Haven is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, #476 of 701 in Michigan. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 71% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 10%).
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 Haven’s median household income is $68,239; among the 10,355 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$85K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where South Haven compares well: binge drinking, 11.9% (U.S. 15.4%); checkup in the past year, 84.8% (U.S. 77.4%); cholesterol check in 5 years, 91% (U.S. 87.1%).
Out of every 100 South Haven adults…
South Haven runs above MI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
South Haven is an older town: 42% 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 Haven as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Haven adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Care in and near South Haven
1 hospital in South Haven, 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 South Haven; ≈ 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.
1.9 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How South Haven adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
3 in 10 South Haven 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.
15.1% of South Haven adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
South Haven 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Haven | C | 38.9% | 16.1% | 14.2% | CDC place |
| South Haven Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Casco Township | C− | 39.3% | 15% | 17.1% | ZIP codes |
South Haven Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Haven adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Haven
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Haven is better than Michigan on 5 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside South Haven’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Haven | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%18.9–25.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.9–17.8 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%32–46.7 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.1%13.9–18.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.1%40.7–49.6 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41.6%37.3–46.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 39.5%35.7–43.6 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12.6%11.3–13.9 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.6–11 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.7%9.1–12.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5%4.4–5.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.9%11.5–16.7 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.2%11.9–16.9 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%23.6–33.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.7–14.3 | 15.9% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%26.3–38.6 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.3–7.9 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.8%82–87.3 | 80.3% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.3%63.9–70.8 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 91%89.7–92.2 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 83.8%81.2–86.1 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.1%69.5–78.4 | 69% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%68.1–82.4 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%21.9–29.4 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.1%24.6–33.9 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%17.1–23.7 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%12.4–17.5 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.5%8.9–12.3 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.8–9 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%12.6–17.9 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36%31.5–40.7 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.2%16.4–22.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12–15.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.8–11.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.2–6.8 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.4–11.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 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 Haven
Is South Haven a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Haven is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #476 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Haven?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 46.7%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Haven?
Bronson South Haven Hospital in South Haven, 0.8 miles in a straight line from South Haven’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in South Haven have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–7.9%), 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 Haven 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 Haven.
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.