Charleston, South Carolina is a vibrant city with a rich history and culture. The local healthcare infrastructure in Charleston is strong, with several prominent hospitals located in the city such as Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Roper St. Francis Healthcare. In addition to these larger facilities, there are also many smaller community clinics and medical centers that provide a wide range of services to the people of Charleston. The health resources available in this city are comprehensive, ranging from family medicine to specialty services such as plastic surgery and cardiology. These resources have helped ensure that the residents of the city receive quality care when they need it. By having access to both large and small medical establishments, Charleston residents can remain healthy while enjoying all that this charming city has to offer.
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 478 physicians per 100,000 population in Charleston. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Charleston area is 98.9 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
98.9 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Charleston area is 50 (100=best). The US average is 55.
50 / 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 Charleston area is 84 (100=best). The US average is 87.
84 / 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 Charleston commutes 22.1 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 Charleston area is 59 (100=best). The US average is 58.
59 / 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.