Health · Mecosta
Mecosta, MI health
On most measures Mecosta looks like Michigan as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more smokers (18% vs 14.6%) and more adults with COPD (9.9% vs 8.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MecostaTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Mecosta’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Mecosta is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, and than 48% of towns with similar incomes.
CSelf-rated healthC-Physical distressCMental distressB-ObesityCDiabetesCSmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 32%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (1,267)Healthier than 41%
Towns with similar incomes, $46K–$77K (8,477)Healthier than 48%
Better than its income would suggest. Mecosta is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Mecosta 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 Mecosta 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. Mecosta 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 Mecosta 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
38.2% have obesity
0 better11 close1 worse
Habits
27.1% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
79.5% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
33.1% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
16.6% 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 Mecosta adults…
37 of every 100 Mecosta adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 33.3–41.7%
Bars show Mecosta; the black tick is Michigan. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Mecosta, betterMecosta, worseToo close to callMichigan
Get no exerciseshare of adults
27.1% Mecosta
MI 24.9%
MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
34.7% Mecosta
MI 34.7%
MI 34.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16.4% Mecosta
MI 15.9%
MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
18% Mecosta
MI 14.6%
MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Mecosta 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 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Mecosta 7.5% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection
How Mecosta adults are doing
1 in 3Mecosta adults feel lonely
33.1% · Michigan 32.4% · too close to call
1 in 3Mecosta adults have been diagnosed with depression
29.2% · Michigan 25.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Mecosta adults lack social or emotional support
23.7% · Michigan 23.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Mecosta adults are in frequent mental distress
19.2% · 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
Mecosta adults worry about having enough food
16.6% · MI 15.4% · about the same
1 in 8
Mecosta adults worry about keeping their housing
12.4% · MI 11.9% · about the same
1 in 11
Mecosta adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.3% · MI 8.7% · about the same
1 in 11
Mecosta adults lack reliable transportation
9% · MI 8.3% · about the same
16.7% of Mecosta adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
Disability
Living with a disability
35.4%
of Mecosta adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs16%
Thinking or memory16.8%
Hearing8%
Errands alone9.9%
Vision5.5%
Dressing or bathing4.5%
Black tick: Michigan. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Mecosta
No hospital or community health center in Mecosta itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERCorewell Health Big Rapids HospitalBig Rapids · 13.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBaldwin Family Health CareBig Rapids · 14.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
14.3 mi
Baldwin Family Health Care
4 sites · nearest in Big Rapids
Family Health Care - Big RapidsBig Rapids · 14.3 mi
Family Health Care - Big Rapids 220th AveBig Rapids · 15.5 mi
Family Health Care - BensonWhite Cloud · 27.6 mi
Family Health Care - White CloudWhite Cloud · 27.7 mi
23.4 mi
Isabella Citizens for Health
3 sites · nearest in Mount Pleasant
Women's Health Center of Isabella Citizens for HealthMount Pleasant · 23.4 mi
Isabella Citizens for HealthMount Pleasant · 23.8 mi
Farwell Health CenterFarwell · 23.8 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careMecosta's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Mecosta/Osceola Counties · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careMecosta's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Mecosta County · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthMecosta's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Central Michigan MHCA · need score 19 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 Mecosta. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Mecosta
| Measure | Mecosta | Margin | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 37.3% | 33.3–41.7% | 36.7% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.9% | 31.8–40.4% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.2% | 31–46.1% | 36.2% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.5% | 28.2–35.2% | 29.1% | about the same |
| Depression | 29.2% | 25.3–33.4% | 25.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 11.1% | 8.9–13.4% | 10.2% | about the same |
| Asthma | 12.1% | 10.8–13.7% | 11.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3% | 10.5–14.2% | 11.9% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.9% | 8.2–11.8% | 8.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8% | 7% | about the same |
| Stroke | 4% | 3.5–4.6% | 3.7% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18% | 14.7–21.8% | 14.6% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16.4% | 13.6–19.6% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 27.1% | 22.3–32.8% | 24.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.7% | 28.8–40.9% | 34.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.5% | 76.1–82.6% | 80.3% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 65.6% | 62.1–68.8% | 68% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.9% | 83.4–88.2% | 87.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 73.1% | 68.6–77.2% | 69% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.1% | 68.4–82.6% | 76.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.1% | 74.2–79.8% | 77.6% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 5.6–9.9% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.1% | 27.8–38.8% | 32.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.7% | 19.8–27.8% | 23.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19.2% | 16.7–21.8% | 17.6% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 21.9% | 18.4–26.1% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.8% | 13.6–18.4% | 14% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 16.6% | 13.2–20.6% | 15.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12.4% | 10.2–14.9% | 11.9% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.3% | 7.8–11% | 8.7% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 9% | 7.6–10.6% | 8.3% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 16.7% | 13.3–20.5% | 14.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.4% | 30.4–41.2% | 31.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16% | 13.5–18.9% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.8% | 14.3–19.6% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 8% | 7–9.2% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 5.5% | 4.7–6.5% | 4.9% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.5% | 3.8–5.3% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 9.9% | 8.4–11.8% | 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 Mecosta door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Michigan figure falls inside it, we don't call Mecosta better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Mecosta 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.