Denver, CO is home to a population of over 700,000 people and is known for its diverse and vibrant culture. The health of Denver residents is very important to the city, and there are numerous local hospitals and medical facilities that provide quality care. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is one of the largest hospitals in Denver and provides comprehensive care for all members of the community. Other notable institutions include Children’s Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, Swedish Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Sky Ridge Medical Center and more. These hospitals have highly trained staff who specialize in providing specialized care to individuals of all ages. Along with this medical infrastructure, Denver also offers free or low cost healthcare services through various clinics supported by local non-profits as well as government funded programs like Medicaid or Medicare. With these resources in place, Denver residents can rest assured that they have access to high quality medical care when they need it most.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 368 physicians per 100,000 population in Denver. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Denver area is 96.4 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
96.4 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Denver area is 88 (100=best). The US average is 55.
88 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Denver area is 90 (100=best). The US average is 87.
90 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Denver commutes 25.3 minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Denver area is 31 (100=best). The US average is 58.
31 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.