Duluth, Minnesota is a city located on the western tip of Lake Superior with a population of around 86,000. The city is known for its natural beauty and vibrant culture, but it also has an excellent health care system that serves its residents. The area is home to several top-notch hospitals such as St. Luke's Hospital and the Essentia Health Systems, both of which are nationally recognized for their excellent care. In addition to these larger facilities, Duluth has numerous smaller medical clinics and community health centers that provide basic healthcare services to those who may not have access to other providers. The local government also works hard to promote healthy living practices in the city through initiatives like smoke-free parks and public education campaigns. Overall, Duluth has an impressive health care system that works hard to keep its citizens safe and healthy.
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 329 physicians per 100,000 population in Duluth. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Duluth area is 87.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
87.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Duluth area is 66 (100=best). The US average is 55.
66 / 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 Duluth area is 81 (100=best). The US average is 87.
81 / 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 Duluth commutes 17.0 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 Duluth area is 67 (100=best). The US average is 58.
67 / 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.