Buhl is a small rural city located in Twin Falls County, Idaho. The population is approximately 7,000 people, with a large proportion of elderly residents. Health care in the city is provided by a few local hospitals and medical facilities. St Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center and Gooding Hospital are two of the biggest, providing patients living in Buhl with general medical care as well as specialized services like oncology, cardiology, and neurology. These hospitals offer comprehensive health care to the citizens of Buhl and provide access to specialist doctors at other nearby locations. The Buhl Family Clinic is another option for those needing primary medical care such as routine check-ups and general illnesses. There are also several physical therapy centers around the city as well as mental health service providers who specialize in counseling and psychological support. All in all, the health services available in Buhl are diverse and varied, allowing residents to get the care they need without having to travel too far from home.
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 180 physicians per 100,000 population in Buhl. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Buhl area is 95.3 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
95.3 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Buhl area is 36 (100=best). The US average is 55.
36 / 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 Buhl area is 96 (100=best). The US average is 87.
96 / 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 Buhl 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 Buhl area is 74 (100=best). The US average is 58.
74 / 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.