How healthy is Shields?
Shields differs from Michigan on 10 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing housing insecurity (9% vs 11.9%) and fewer adults facing a utility shut-off (6.8% vs 8.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (11.9% vs 8.9%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shields. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shields
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Care in and near Shields
No hospital or community health center in Shields itself. These are the nearest.
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 Shields; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Shields adults…
Shields runs above MI on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Shields is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Michigan. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer (not skin) rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Shields as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.4% of Shields adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.
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 Shields adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.
How Shields adults are doing
About the same as Michigan on each measure.
1 in 3 Shields 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.
Shields 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shields adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Not graded
CDC doesn't publish all seven estimates the grade is built on for Shields, so we show its figures without a grade.
All 40 CDC measures for Shields
| Measure | Shields | Likely range | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 40.4% | 36.3–44.2% | 36.7% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.8% | 33.7–41.8% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 33.1% | 27.1–39% | 36.2% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 35% | 31.5–38.4% | 29.1% | worse |
| Depression | 26.2% | 22.6–29.9% | 25.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.3% | 8.3–12.5% | 10.2% | about the same |
| Asthma | 11.6% | 10.3–13% | 11.5% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 11.9% | 10.8–13% | 8.9% | worse |
| Diabetes | 13.1% | 11.3–14.9% | 11.9% | about the same |
| COPD | 9.4% | 8.1–10.9% | 8.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6% | 7% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7% | 3.7% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8% | 11.6–16.1% | 14.6% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.1% | 11.7–16.8% | 15.9% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 27.5% | 23.2–31.8% | 24.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.5% | 26.6–36.7% | 34.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 82.6% | 79.7–85.2% | 80.3% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 70.9% | 67.7–73.9% | 68% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 89.2% | 87.7–90.6% | 87.4% | better |
| Colon screening | 73.6% | 69.3–77.5% | 69% | better |
| Mammogram | 78.6% | 72.1–84.1% | 76.9% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 81.8% | 79.1–84.1% | 77.6% | better |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 5.2–7.6% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.9% | 27.1–36.8% | 32.4% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 21.8% | 18.5–25.3% | 23.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.4% | 14.5–18.4% | 17.6% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 20.3% | 17.4–23.1% | 19.4% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.3% | 13.3–17.2% | 14% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 12.7% | 10.6–15.2% | 15.4% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 9% | 7.6–10.7% | 11.9% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.8% | 5.8–8% | 8.7% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6.6% | 5.7–7.7% | 8.3% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 11.4% | 9.5–13.8% | 14.3% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8% | 29.6–38% | 31.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.5% | 14.1–19% | 14% | |
| Thinking or memory | 13.7% | 11.9–15.5% | 14.3% | |
| Hearing | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4% | 7.3% | |
| Vision | 4.9% | 4.3–5.6% | 4.9% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4% | 3.8% | |
| Errands alone | 8.9% | 7.7–10.1% | 8.6% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Shields door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Michigan figure falls inside it, we don’t call Shields better or worse.
CDC publishes Shields directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Shields.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
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. 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.