On CDC estimates, Watervliet is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Watervliet trails Michigan on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watervliet. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watervliet
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Watervliet
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.8%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, Watervliet runs above Michigan on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Watervliet is in the bottom 5% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Watervliet is healthier than only 5% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Watervliet
61.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 68% across Michigan. Among those 65 and older, 21.5% have lost all their teeth (Michigan 10.2%). Checkups ↓
More Watervliet adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (41.1%, vs 31.1% across Michigan). The biggest difference is vision loss: 7.8% vs 4.9%. Disability ↓
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 Watervliet’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Watervliet’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watervliet is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns. All seven of Watervliet’s estimates fall in the lowest 14% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 18.9% of adults, against 14% across Michigan and 13% nationally.
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). Watervliet’s median household income is $61,167; among the 9,215 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 4%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Watervliet adults…
Watervliet runs above MI on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Watervliet residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Watervliet adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watervliet adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Care in and near Watervliet
1 hospital in Watervliet, 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 Watervliet; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Watervliet adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Watervliet runs above Michigan.
1 in 3 Watervliet 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.
25.5% of Watervliet adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Watervliet and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watervliet | D− | 42.7% | 15.2% | 21.5% | CDC place |
| Paw Paw Lake | — | — | — | — |
Paw Paw Lake: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Watervliet
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watervliet is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside Watervliet’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watervliet | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.4%23.4–31.5 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.4–21.5 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.4–23.5 | 17.6% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.7%36.1–49.6 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.2%13.1–17.4 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.8%36.9–44.8 | 36.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%32.6–40.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34%30.7–37.4 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 8.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.8%10.8–14.9 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%18.2–25.3 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.5%17.8–25.4 | 14.6% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.2%28.2–38.7 | 24.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.4–18.1 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.7%32.5–43.4 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%8.1–13.1 | 6.9% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.8%74.2–81.1 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.2%58.1–64.6 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.1–86 | 87.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%74–79.4 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%62.4–71.3 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.2%62.6–77.1 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.7%25.8–33.8 | 25.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.2%28.2–38.1 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%19.8–27.2 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.4%19.2–28.4 | 15.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.1%13.4–19 | 11.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.9%11–15 | 8.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12%10.3–14.1 | 8.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.5%20.9–30.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.1%36.1–46.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.1%17.1–23.1 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.7%17–22.6 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.8%6.7–8.9 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.1–14.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 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 Watervliet
Is Watervliet a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watervliet is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 4%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watervliet?
CDC estimates 42.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 49.6%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watervliet?
Corewell Health Watervliet Hospital in Watervliet, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Watervliet’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Watervliet have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–13.1%), 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 Watervliet 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 Watervliet.
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.