Health · Decatur
Decatur, MI health
On most measures Decatur looks like Michigan as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (9% vs 6.9%) and fewer adults seeing a dentist (63.8% vs 68%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for DecaturTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Decatur’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Decatur is healthier than 22% of U.S. towns.
CSelf-rated healthC-Physical distressDMental distressC-ObesityC+DiabetesCSmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 22%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (1,267)Healthier than 22%
Towns with similar incomes, $46K–$77K (8,608)Healthier than 31%
About what its income would suggest. Decatur does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Decatur 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 Decatur 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. Decatur 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 Decatur 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
39.7% have obesity
0 better12 close0 worse
Habits
28.4% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
79.2% had a checkup
0 better5 close2 worse
Mind & connection
32.9% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
17.7% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
35.4% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Decatur adults…
37 of every 100 Decatur adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32.4–40.8%
Bars show Decatur; the black tick is Michigan. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Decatur, betterDecatur, worseToo close to callMichigan
Get no exerciseshare of adults
28.4% Decatur
MI 24.9%
MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
34.2% Decatur
MI 34.7%
MI 34.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
15.8% Decatur
MI 15.9%
MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.1% Decatur
MI 14.6%
MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Decatur 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 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Decatur 9% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection
How Decatur adults are doing
1 in 3Decatur adults feel lonely
32.9% · Michigan 32.4% · too close to call
1 in 3Decatur adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.8% · Michigan 25.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Decatur adults lack social or emotional support
23.1% · Michigan 23.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Decatur adults are in frequent mental distress
19.7% · 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 6
Decatur adults worry about having enough food
17.7% · MI 15.4% · about the same
1 in 8
Decatur adults worry about keeping their housing
13.3% · MI 11.9% · about the same
1 in 10
Decatur adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.7% · MI 8.7% · about the same
1 in 11
Decatur adults lack reliable transportation
9.5% · MI 8.3% · about the same
16.8% of Decatur adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Disability
Living with a disability
35.4%
of Decatur adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs16.1%
Thinking or memory17.2%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone10.2%
Vision5.8%
Dressing or bathing4.4%
Black tick: Michigan. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Decatur
No hospital or community health center in Decatur itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERBronson Lakeview HospitalPaw Paw · 8.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLakeland Immediate Care CenterCassopolis · 13.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.1 mi
Lakeland Immediate Care Center
4 sites · nearest in Cassopolis
Cassopolis Family Clinic AnnexCassopolis · 13.1 mi
Cass Family Clinic DowagiacDowagiac · 13.1 mi
Cassopolis Family Clinic NetworkCassopolis · 13.2 mi
Niles Community Health CenterNiles · 23.3 mi
15.9 mi
Intercare Community Health Network
2 sites · nearest in Bangor
Intercare BangorBangor · 15.9 mi
Intercare Eau ClaireEau Claire · 19 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careDecatur's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Van Buren County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careDecatur's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Van Buren County · need score 15 of 25
✓ Mental healthDecatur is not a shortage area
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 Decatur. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Decatur
| Measure | Decatur | Margin | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.5% | 32.4–40.8% | 36.7% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.6% | 31.5–40% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.7% | 32.3–47.5% | 36.2% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.3% | 27.9–34.7% | 29.1% | about the same |
| Depression | 28.8% | 25–32.9% | 25.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 11.6% | 9.4–14.3% | 10.2% | about the same |
| Asthma | 12.2% | 10.9–13.7% | 11.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.9% | 8–9.9% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.8% | 10.9–14.7% | 11.9% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.5% | 8–11.2% | 8.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.4% | 6.5–8.5% | 7% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4% | 3.7% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1% | 14–20.3% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.8% | 13–19% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28.4% | 23.5–33.4% | 24.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2% | 28.2–40.8% | 34.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.2% | 75.7–82.6% | 80.3% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 63.8% | 60.2–67.5% | 68% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 85.7% | 83.6–87.9% | 87.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68.8% | 64–73.4% | 69% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.4% | 68.9–83.1% | 76.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.7% | 73.8–79.6% | 77.6% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9% | 7.3–11.1% | 6.9% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.9% | 27.9–38.1% | 32.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.1% | 19.7–26.9% | 23.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.7% | 17.3–22.2% | 17.6% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.2% | 18.7–25.8% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 16% | 13.9–18.3% | 14% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 17.7% | 14.5–21% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 13.3% | 11.1–15.6% | 11.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.7% | 8.2–11.2% | 8.7% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9.5% | 8.1–11% | 8.3% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 16.8% | 13.7–20.1% | 14.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4% | 30.6–40.2% | 31.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.1% | 13.7–18.7% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17.2% | 14.8–19.7% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 8.1% | 7.1–9.3% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 5.8% | 5–6.6% | 4.9% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.4% | 3.8–5.2% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 10.2% | 8.7–11.8% | 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 Decatur door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Michigan figure falls inside it, we don't call Decatur better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Decatur 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.