Photo: Smgross at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn CDC estimates, St. Louis is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
St. Louis differs from Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 16 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for St. Louis. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in St. Louis
Making ends meet is harder in St. Louis
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.2%), vs 15.4% across Michigan. Utility shut-off threats (15.9% vs 8.7%) and housing insecurity (20.5% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 27.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14.3% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in St. Louis
54.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 16.9% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in St. Louis
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (22.8%), vs 14.6% across Michigan. Habits ↓
St. Louis is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, St. Louis is healthier than 12%. Against the 6,175 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 27%. Health Grade ↓
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 St. Louis’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind St. Louis’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. Louis is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns, #652 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 40% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). St. Louis’ median household income is $51,167; among the 6,175 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$64K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where St. Louis compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27.9% of St. Louis adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Keeping up with care
Share of St. Louis 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.
1.1 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 St. Louis adults…
St. Louis runs below MI on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of St. Louis residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near St. Louis
No hospital or community health center in St. Louis 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 St. Louis; ≈ 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 St. Louis adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, St. Louis runs above Michigan.
4 in 10 St. Louis 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.
St. Louis and the towns around it
St. Louis’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | D | 42.6% | 12.7% | 22.8% | CDC place |
| Pine River Township | C | 37.2% | 11.8% | 16.8% | ZIP codes |
| Bethany Township | C− | 39.5% | 12.5% | 19.9% | ZIP codes |
| Alma | C+ | 36% | 11.3% | 15.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of St. Louis adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for St. Louis
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, St. Louis is better than Michigan on 2 and worse on 16; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside St. Louis’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | St. Louis | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.1%22.8–29.6 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.8 | 14% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.6%18.3–23.1 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.6%34.8–50.9 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11–14.4 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.1%33.8–42.5 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%28.5–36.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.3%22.4–28.3 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.6–6.8 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.3–7.8 | 7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9.3%8–10.5 | 8.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.9%13.6–20.5 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 22.8%19.6–26.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.1%26.2–36.1 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18%14.8–21.5 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.2%32.5–46.5 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.6%10.3–15.5 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.4%71.5–79.2 | 80.3% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.4%50.5–58.3 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.4%76.7–82.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.9%66.4–73 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%55.9–66.1 | 69% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.1%65.1–80.4 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.2–28.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.9%31.7–42.5 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.6%25.5–33.9 | 23.1% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.2%23.3–31.5 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.5%17.7–23.6 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.9%13.9–18.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.1%12.3–16.2 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27.9%23.9–32.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.9%32.3–41.8 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%12.9–17.1 | 14% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.3%17–21.8 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.4 | 7.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 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 St. Louis
Is St. Louis a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, St. Louis is healthier than 12% of U.S. towns: D for health, #652 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in St. Louis?
CDC estimates 42.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.8% and 50.9%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to St. Louis?
Mymichigan Medical Center Alma in Alma, 2.9 miles in a straight line from St. Louis’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in St. Louis have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–15.5%), 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 St. Louis more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in St. Louis.
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.