Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Sylvan Township is healthier than 62%
Sylvan Township differs from Michigan on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 49679, 49631. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sylvan Township
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Sylvan Township
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.4%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.6%), vs 7% across Michigan. Cancer is also above the state: 11.3%, vs 8.9% across Michigan. In all, Sylvan Township runs above Michigan on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Sylvan Township adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.2%), vs 24.9% across Michigan. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Sylvan Township, and more people treating it
41.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Michigan 36.7%), but 80.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Sylvan Township is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Sylvan Township is healthier than 19%. Against the 3,527 towns with similar household incomes ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 62%. 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 Sylvan Township’s likely range; Sylvan Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 49679, 49631, 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 Sylvan Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sylvan Township is healthier than 19% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 32% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Sylvan Township’s median household income is $43,583; among the 3,527 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($33K–$54K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Sylvan Township compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.3% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Sylvan Township adults…
Sylvan Township runs above MI on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
4.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Sylvan Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Care in and near Sylvan Township
No hospital or community health center in Sylvan 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 Sylvan 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).
How Sylvan Township adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Sylvan 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.5% of Sylvan Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Sylvan Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Township | C− | 38.8% | 14.2% | 17.7% | ZIP codes |
| Middle Branch Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Orient Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Osceola Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Freeman Township | C− | 40% | 15.3% | 18.2% | ZIP codes |
Middle Branch Township and Orient Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Osceola Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sylvan Township adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sylvan Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sylvan Township is better than Michigan on 1 and worse on 13; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Sylvan Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sylvan Township | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.2%20.2–26.3 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%15.2–19.1 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.1%16.1–20.2 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%31.6–46.4 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.2%12.5–16.1 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.6%37.7–45.7 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.4%35.5–43.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.1%32.9–39.6 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.8%10.6–13.2 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.3–12.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.4%10–12.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.8–18.1 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15.2–20.6 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.2%25–33.8 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.7 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33%27.3–39.4 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.1–9.2 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81.5%78.6–84.2 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.8%62.5–69.1 | 68% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.5%85.9–89.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%78–82.6 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.4%65.8–74.7 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.4%67.4–80.8 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%23.9–31 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27.7–37.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.7–26.3 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.6%13.2–18.3 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9.2–12.6 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%7.1–9.3 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.1–9.3 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.5%13–18.1 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%33.5–42.2 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%16–20.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.3–18.2 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%9.1–11.3 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.6 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 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 Sylvan Township
Is Sylvan Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sylvan Township is healthier than 19% 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 Sylvan Township?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.6% and 46.4%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sylvan Township?
Corewell Health Reed City Hospital in Reed City, 19.7 miles in a straight line from Sylvan Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Sylvan Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–9.2%), 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 Sylvan 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 Sylvan 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.