Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, West Branch is healthier than 66%
West Branch trails Michigan on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Branch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Branch
West Branch is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, West Branch is healthier than 18%. Against the 2,752 towns with similar household incomes ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 66%. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in West Branch
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.3%), vs 8.1% across Michigan. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 7% across Michigan. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.7% across Michigan. In all, West Branch runs above Michigan on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Michigan 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
West Branch has a community health center but no hospital
Midmichigan Health Services is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Mymichigan Medical Center West Branch, 3.1 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 West Branch’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind West Branch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Branch is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 32% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). West Branch’s median household income is $41,250; among the 2,752 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($31K–$52K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 West Branch adults…
West Branch runs above MI on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Branch is an older town: 28% 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 West Branch as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near West Branch
2 community health centers in West Branch, 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 West Branch; ≈ 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.
1.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of West Branch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How West Branch adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 West Branch 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.
17.3% of West Branch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
West Branch 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch | C− | 38.4% | 13.7% | 17.4% | CDC place |
| West Branch Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Ogemaw Township | C− | 38.4% | 14.1% | 17.2% | ZIP 48661 |
West Branch Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Branch adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Branch
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Branch is better than Michigan on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Michigan figure falls inside West Branch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Branch | MI | U.S. | vs MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.4%19.9–27.5 | 19.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.8–19.6 | 14% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%16.9–21.9 | 17.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.4%30.5–47.2 | 36.2% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.7%11.8–15.8 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%35.8–44.7 | 36.7% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.9%32.7–41.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.9%32.3–39.7 | 29.1% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.8–13.8 | 11.5% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 8.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.3%9.5–13.4 | 8.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.3%10.8–16.2 | 10.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.4%14.4–20.5 | 14.6% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.5%24.5–35.3 | 24.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.1–17.9 | 15.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%29.5–43.6 | 34.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.6%5.7–9.9 | 6.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.3%76.7–83.6 | 80.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.6%59.7–67.1 | 68% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.9%83.5–88.1 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.5%76.8–82 | 77.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.8%63.6–73.5 | 69% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%64.8–80.5 | 76.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.3%25.1–33.7 | 25.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%27.4–38.6 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%18.6–26.5 | 23.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.7%13.3–20.6 | 15.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.4–14 | 11.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.4–10.5 | 8.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%7.5–10.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.3%13.8–21.2 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.9%33.9–44.3 | 31.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.8%16–21.8 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%14.6–19.9 | 14.3% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.4–7.3 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.3%9.6–13.2 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.2–5.7 | 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 West Branch
Is West Branch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Branch is healthier than 18% 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 West Branch?
CDC estimates 38.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 47.2%, against 36.2% across Michigan and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Branch?
Mymichigan Medical Center West Branch in West Branch, 3.1 miles in a straight line from West Branch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Branch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.7–9.9%), 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 West Branch 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 West Branch.
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.