Erie, Pennsylvania is a relatively small city with a population of around 99,000 people. Despite its size, there are several medical facilities that serve the health needs of residents. The local hospitals consist of UPMC Hamot Medical Center and Saint Vincent Hospital, both providing specialized care for medical emergencies and more routine treatments. In addition to the two major hospitals, Erie also has various outpatient centers and clinics such as Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Corry Memorial Hospital, and Millcreek Community Hospital. These facilities offer services ranging from primary care to specialty care with some providing physical therapy and rehabilitation services as well. Furthermore, the city also boasts numerous health-related organizations such as the Presque Isle Health Services which provides mental health services and behavioral health counseling for those in need. As a result, residents of Erie have access to quality healthcare regardless of their income or insurance status.
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 226 physicians per 100,000 population in Erie. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Erie area is 90.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
90.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Erie area is 80 (100=best). The US average is 55.
80 / 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 Erie area is 78 (100=best). The US average is 87.
78 / 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 Erie commutes 17.4 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 Erie area is 57 (100=best). The US average is 58.
57 / 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.