On CDC estimates, Walker is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Walker differs from Michigan on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walker. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walker
Stroke and COPD are less common in Walker
Walker runs below Michigan on six chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.7% vs 3.7%), COPD (6.1% vs 8.1%) and heart disease (5.3% vs 7%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Walker adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Michigan. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Walker is an active town
Only 19.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.9% across Michigan. The town has 25 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves. 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 Walker’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Walker’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walker is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #111 of 701 in Michigan. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 90% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Walker’s median household income is $76,360; among the 10,811 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 91%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Walker adults…
Walker runs below MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.5% of Walker adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Everyday habits, side by side with Michigan
Share of adults, with the Michigan figure marked.
25 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Care in and near Walker
No hospital or community health center in Walker 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 Walker; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Walker adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Walker adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Walker 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.
Walker and the towns around it
Walker’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker | A− | 33% | 9.1% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Grand Rapids | B | 36.4% | 10.4% | 14% | CDC place |
| Grandville | A− | 32.5% | 9.2% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Tallmadge Township | A− | 33.4% | 9.6% | 12.6% | ZIP codes |
| Alpine Township | B+ | 34.7% | 10% | 13.9% | ZIP codes |
| Wyoming | B− | 36.7% | 10.9% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| Comstock Park | — | — | — | — |
Comstock Park: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walker adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Walker
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Walker is better than Michigan on 17 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Walker’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Walker | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.1%13.2–17.1 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.6–13.5 | 14% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.4–19.3 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%28.5–37.6 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.1%7.9–10.3 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.2%27.3–33.1 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.1%27–33.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 24.5%22.1–26.9 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 7% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–2.9 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.7%6.2–9.3 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.4%10.7–14.2 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%16.9–22.7 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.5%15.7–21.5 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32%28.1–35.9 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%5.3–7.4 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.1–81.1 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.1%69.3–74.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.4%84.5–88 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.7%70.8–76.3 | 77.6% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.2%68.3–75.7 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.7%70.6–81.9 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.6%25.3–31.9 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%28.3–36.5 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.4–25.6 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.4%9.7–13.1 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%8.1–10.9 | 11.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.6–7.4 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.5%8–11 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.4%23.3–29.6 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%8.8–11.5 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.8–15 | 14.3% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.6–6.9 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.3–8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Walker
Is Walker a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walker is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #111 of 701 in Michigan. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 91%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Walker?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 37.6%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Walker?
Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Walker’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Walker have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.3–7.4%), 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 Walker more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Walker.
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.