Health · Athens
Athens, MI health
On every measure CDC estimates, Athens looks like Michigan as a whole: no difference is outside the margin of error.
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AthensTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C+
Athens’s Health Grade: C+
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Athens is healthier than 38% of U.S. towns and 50% of Michigan towns.
BSelf-rated healthC+Physical distressCMental distressC-ObesityBDiabetesCSmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 38%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (1,267)Healthier than 50%
Towns with similar incomes, $53K–$88K (9,616)Healthier than 46%
About what its income would suggest. Athens does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Athens could be anywhere from D to B+.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Michigan ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Athens with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Athens uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Athens compares with Michigan
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
41.3% have obesity
0 better12 close0 worse
Habits
25.3% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
79.3% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
33% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
13.3% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
32.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Athens adults…
37 of every 100 Athens adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 33.3–41.4%
Bars show Athens; the black tick is Michigan. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Athens, betterAthens, worseToo close to callMichigan
Get no exerciseshare of adults
25.3% Athens
MI 24.9%
MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
33.5% Athens
MI 34.7%
MI 34.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16.3% Athens
MI 15.9%
MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
16.5% Athens
MI 14.6%
MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Athens adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
Yearly checkup
MI 80%Dentist visit
MI 68%Cholesterol check
MI 87%Colon screening
MI 69%Mammogram
MI 77%Taking BP meds
MI 78%1 in 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Athens 6.2% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection
How Athens adults are doing
1 in 3Athens adults feel lonely
33% · Michigan 32.4% · too close to call
1 in 4Athens adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.9% · Michigan 25.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Athens adults lack social or emotional support
23.2% · Michigan 23.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Athens adults are in frequent mental distress
18.6% · Michigan 17.6% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 8
Athens adults worry about having enough food
13.3% · MI 15.4% · about the same
1 in 9
Athens adults worry about keeping their housing
10.6% · MI 11.9% · about the same
1 in 13
Athens adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.7% · MI 8.7% · about the same
1 in 14
Athens adults lack reliable transportation
7.3% · MI 8.3% · about the same
12.3% of Athens adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Disability
Living with a disability
32.9%
of Athens adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs14.3%
Thinking or memory15.1%
Hearing7.7%
Errands alone8.8%
Vision4.6%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Black tick: Michigan. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Athens
No hospital or community health center in Athens itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERInsight Hospital and Medical Center ColdwaterColdwater · 16.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost careGrace HealthBattle Creek · 16.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
16.9 mi
Grace Health
2 sites · nearest in Battle Creek
Grace HealthBattle Creek · 16.9 mi
Grace HealthBattle Creek · 16.9 mi
18.3 mi
Covered Bridge Healthcare of St. Joseph County
Centreville · community health center
Nothing matches.
! Primary careAthens's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Calhoun County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careAthens's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Calhoun County · need score 12 of 25
! Mental healthAthens's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Calhoun County · need score 16 of 25
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 Athens. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Athens
| Measure | Athens | Margin | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 37.3% | 33.3–41.4% | 36.7% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.8% | 32.6–40.7% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.3% | 34.4–48.1% | 36.2% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.2% | 27.8–34.6% | 29.1% | about the same |
| Depression | 27.9% | 24.1–31.7% | 25.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 9.7% | 7.7–12% | 10.2% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3% | 11.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7% | 10–13.5% | 11.9% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.5% | 7.2–9.9% | 8.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.9% | 6.1–7.9% | 7% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.6% | 3.1–4% | 3.7% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5% | 13.6–19.6% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16.3% | 13.5–19.3% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 25.3% | 20.9–30% | 24.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5% | 28.1–39.4% | 34.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.3% | 75.8–82.4% | 80.3% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 66.6% | 62.9–70.1% | 68% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 87.5% | 85.4–89.4% | 87.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68% | 63.2–72.6% | 69% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 74.2% | 66.8–80.7% | 76.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.4% | 74.2–80.1% | 77.6% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 4.9–8% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33% | 28.1–38.4% | 32.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.2% | 19.4–27.1% | 23.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.6% | 16.3–20.8% | 17.6% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18.5% | 15.7–21.6% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.6% | 12.7–16.7% | 14% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13.3% | 10.5–16.2% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.6% | 8.7–12.7% | 11.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.7% | 6.4–9% | 8.7% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.3% | 6.2–8.6% | 8.3% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 12.3% | 9.7–15.1% | 14.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9% | 28.3–37.5% | 31.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.3% | 12.1–16.7% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.1% | 13–17.3% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 7.7% | 6.8–8.7% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 4.6% | 4–5.3% | 4.9% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.7% | 3.2–4.4% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 8.8% | 7.5–10.1% | 8.6% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Athens door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Michigan figure falls inside it, we don't call Athens better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Athens directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Michigan figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.