Alameda County, located in California, is home to a diverse population of over 1.6 million people. The county boasts a number of local hospitals and medical facilities that are highly-rated for providing quality health care services. These hospitals are supported by a network of public health programs that provide access to preventative and primary care health services. In addition, Alameda County has an array of mental health and substance abuse treatment centers which work to ensure the well-being of its residents. Furthermore, the county is home to several universities and research institutions which conduct studies on public health topics impacting the area such as access to care for underserved populations and the impacts of climate change on health outcomes. With all these resources in place, Alameda County can be proud of its commitment to providing quality healthcare for its citizens.
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 Alameda County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Alameda County area is 97.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
97.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Alameda County area is 32 (100=best). The US average is 55.
32 / 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 Alameda County area is 94 (100=best). The US average is 87.
94 / 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 Alameda County commutes 32.5 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 Alameda County area is 54 (100=best). The US average is 58.
54 / 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.