Health · Watersmeet

Watersmeet, MI health

Watersmeet differs from Michigan on 17 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (6.6% vs 10.2%) and fewer adults facing housing insecurity (9.4% vs 11.9%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (13.5% vs 8.9%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP code 49969 (all of Watersmeet)
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Watersmeet’s Health Grade: C+

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Watersmeet is healthier than 41% of U.S. towns and 53% of Michigan towns.

C+Self-rated healthC-Physical distressA-Mental distressBObesityDDiabetesC+SmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 41%
Less healthyHealthier
Michigan towns we grade (1,267)Healthier than 53%
Towns with similar incomes, $55K–$91K (9,792)Healthier than 45%

About what its income would suggest. Watersmeet does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Watersmeet 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 Watersmeet 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. Watersmeet’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. 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 Watersmeet 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

Out of every 100 Watersmeet adults…

46 of every 100 Watersmeet adults have high blood pressure
Michigan: 37 in 100 · worse · margin 40.7–50.3%

Bars show Watersmeet; the black tick is Michigan. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Watersmeet, betterWatersmeet, worseToo close to callMichigan
Get no exerciseshare of adults 26.3% Watersmeet
MI 24.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 31.9% Watersmeet
MI 34.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults 13.2% Watersmeet
MI 15.9%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 15.2% Watersmeet
MI 14.6%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Watersmeet adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Michigan.

85%
Yearly checkup
MI 80%
70%
Dentist visit
MI 68%
92%
Cholesterol check
MI 87%
74%
Colon screening
MI 69%
76%
Mammogram
MI 77%
84%
Taking BP meds
MI 78%
1 in 18
working-age adults has no health insurance
Watersmeet 5.5% · Michigan 1 in 14 (6.9%)
Mind & connection

How Watersmeet adults are doing

1 in 3Watersmeet adults feel lonely
29.9% · Michigan 32.4% · too close to call
1 in 4Watersmeet adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.8% · Michigan 25.7% · too close to call
1 in 5Watersmeet adults lack social or emotional support
21.8% · Michigan 23.1% · too close to call
1 in 7Watersmeet adults are in frequent mental distress
15.3% · Michigan 17.6% · better
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
Watersmeet adults worry about having enough food
13.2% · MI 15.4% · about the same
1 in 11
Watersmeet adults worry about keeping their housing
9.4% · MI 11.9% · better
1 in 14
Watersmeet adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.1% · MI 8.7% · better
1 in 14
Watersmeet adults lack reliable transportation
7.3% · MI 8.3% · about the same

11.3% of Watersmeet adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Michigan.

Disability

Living with a disability

35.6%

of Watersmeet adults live with a disability (Michigan 31.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs17.9%
Thinking or memory12.9%
Hearing11%
Errands alone8.6%
Vision5.4%
Dressing or bathing4.2%

Black tick: Michigan. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Watersmeet

Watersmeet and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Watersmeet.

Land O'Lakes: 36.7% Marenisco: 36.6% Phelps: 37.9% Haight: 37% Stambaugh: 39.7% Interior: 36.9% Conover: 37.6% Plum Lake: 36.2% Presque Isle: 36% Boulder Junction: 36.6% Bessemer: 37.1% Wakefield: 37.1% McMillan: 36.7% Matchwood: 36.7% Bergland: 36.6% Hiles: 37.5% Washington: 37.4% Alvin: 38.5% Stannard: 37% Tipler: 38.5% Florence: 37.8% Iron River: 39.3% Gaastra: 39.8% Bates: 39.7% Mastodon: 38.6% Iron River: 40.5% Caspian: 40.4% Duncan: 35.5% Watersmeet: 35.6% Watersmeet Land O'Lakes Marenisco Phelps Haight Stambaugh Interior Aspirus Eagle River Hospital · Eagle River · 22.5 miH Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics · Iron River · 30.1 miH Howard Young Medical Center · Woodruff · 34.1 mi · 4★ MedicareH Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua · Minocqua · 34.7 mi · 5★ MedicareH Ice Lake Family Health Center · Iron River · 30.1 mi+ Family Health Center - Minocqua Alcohol & Drug Recovery Center · Minocqua · 35.2 mi+
35.5%40.5%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#2 of 29towns on this map, healthiest first
Watersmeet35.6%
Marenisco36.6%
Land O'Lakes36.7%
Interior36.9%
Haight37%
Phelps37.9%
Stambaugh39.7%
6 places to get careNearest ER 22.5 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Watersmeet

No hospital or community health center in Watersmeet itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERAspirus Eagle River HospitalEagle River · 22.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMarshfield Medical Center - Minocqua★★★★★ · 34.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careUpper Great Lakes Family Health CenterIron River · 30.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
22.5 mi
Aspirus Eagle River Hospital
Eagle River · not rated
ERRural critical access
30.1 mi
Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics
Iron River · not rated
ERRural critical access
30.1 mi
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Iron River
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
34.1 mi
Howard Young Medical Center
Woodruff · ★★★★★
ER
34.7 mi
Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua
Minocqua · ★★★★★
ER
35.2 mi
Family Health Center of Marshfield
5 sites · nearest in Minocqua
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
! Primary careWatersmeet's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Gogebic County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careWatersmeet's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Gogebic County · need score 12 of 25
! Mental healthWatersmeet's county is a federal shortage area.Gogebic County · need score 12 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 Watersmeet. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Watersmeet
MeasureWatersmeetMarginMichigan
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure45.5%40.7–50.3%36.7%worse
High cholesterol43.2%38.5–48%35.4%worse
Obesity35.6%27.7–44.1%36.2%about the same
Arthritis39%34.8–43.2%29.1%worse
Depression23.8%20.2–27.6%25.7%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)6.6%5.2–8.2%10.2%better
Asthma11.6%10.2–13%11.5%about the same
Cancer (not skin)13.5%12.3–14.9%8.9%worse
Diabetes15.7%13.5–18.2%11.9%worse
COPD10.4%8.8–12.1%8.1%worse
Heart disease10.4%9.1–11.8%7%worse
Stroke4.9%4.3–5.5%3.7%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.2%12.6–18.1%14.6%about the same
Binge drink13.2%10.8–16%15.9%about the same
Get no exercise26.3%21.4–31.5%24.9%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours31.9%25.6–38.6%34.7%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup84.6%81.8–87.2%80.3%better
Dentist visit70.1%66.6–73.4%68%about the same
Cholesterol check91.5%90.3–92.6%87.4%better
Colon screening73.9%69.2–78.3%69%better
Mammogram76.3%68.6–82.9%76.9%about the same
Taking BP meds83.5%80.7–85.9%77.6%better
No health insurance5.5%4.5–6.7%6.9%better
Mind & connection
Feel lonely29.9%25.2–36.2%32.4%about the same
Lack emotional support21.8%18.5–26.1%23.1%about the same
Frequent mental distress15.3%13.3–17.2%17.6%better
Fair or poor health20.9%17.6–24.2%19.4%about the same
Frequent physical distress16.2%14–18.4%14%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity13.2%11–15.9%15.4%about the same
Housing insecurity9.4%8–11.2%11.9%better
Utility shut-off threat7.1%6.1–8.3%8.7%better
No reliable transportation7.3%6.3–8.5%8.3%about the same
Receive SNAP11.3%9.3–13.8%14.3%
Disability
Any disability35.6%30.5–40.7%31.1%
Walking or climbing stairs17.9%15.1–20.7%14%
Thinking or memory12.9%11.1–14.6%14.3%
Hearing11%9.6–12.5%7.3%
Vision5.4%4.7–6.1%4.9%
Dressing or bathing4.2%3.6–4.8%3.8%
Errands alone8.6%7.4–9.9%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 Watersmeet door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Michigan figure falls inside it, we don't call Watersmeet better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Watersmeet by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Watersmeet by how much of its land each one covers.

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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01