The health of the residents in Chicago, IL is generally very good; however, there are some areas that have lower quality health care than others. There are a variety of hospitals and medical facilities in the city to help meet the needs of its residents. These include Cook County Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. These hospitals provide a wide range of services including primary care, emergency care, pediatrics, mental health services, and specialty care. In addition to these hospitals there are many local clinics which provide basic healthcare services such as vaccinations and check-ups for children and adults. These clinics also provide education about healthy living and nutrition to help individuals stay healthy and prevent illnesses. In addition to medical facilities, there are also several community organizations that work towards improving access to health care in Chicago. This includes providing assistance with health insurance coverage or helping patients find affordable medical treatment. Overall, Chicago is committed to providing quality healthcare for all its residents.
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 261 physicians per 100,000 population in Chicago. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Chicago area is 94.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
94.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Chicago area is 31 (100=best). The US average is 55.
31 / 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 Chicago 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 Chicago commutes 34.6 minutes one-way, which is longer than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Chicago area is 48 (100=best). The US average is 58.
48 / 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.