Hickory, NC is a vibrant and diverse small town with a great quality of life. The health of its citizens is of upmost importance and there are many resources available to promote healthy lifestyles. There are several local medical facilities in Hickory including Frye Regional Medical Center and Catawba Valley Medical Center that are well-equipped to provide excellent care for various medical needs. Additionally, there are numerous clinics throughout the city that offer preventive care services such as vaccinations, routine checkups, and screenings. These services are provided in an effort to maintain the overall health of the community. Overall, Hickory is a great place to live due to its dedication to improving the health of its residents through access to quality healthcare resources.
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 237 physicians per 100,000 population in Hickory. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Hickory area is 108.4 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
108.4 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Hickory area is 60 (100=best). The US average is 55.
60 / 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 Hickory area is 93 (100=best). The US average is 87.
93 / 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 Hickory commutes 19.8 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 Hickory area is 52 (100=best). The US average is 58.
52 / 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.