Fairfax County is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia and has a population of over 1.1 million people. It is one of the most populous counties in Virginia and has numerous medical facilities to serve its vast population. Local hospitals in Fairfax include Inova Fairfax Hospital, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, and Reston Hospital Center. Additionally, there are multiple medical centers and urgent care facilities scattered throughout the county for those needing quick access to healthcare services. Fairfax is also home to several health-focused organizations such as the Fairfax County Health Department, which provides a range of public health programs including disease prevention and education services, as well as primary healthcare access points such as free or low cost clinics for those without insurance or who are underinsured. The overall healthcare infrastructure in Fairfax is strong with various specializations available for all types of medical needs.
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 299 physicians per 100,000 population in Fairfax County. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Fairfax County 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 Fairfax County area is 40 (100=best). The US average is 55.
40 / 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 Fairfax County area is 100 (100=best). The US average is 87.
100 / 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 Fairfax County commutes 32.1 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 Fairfax County area is 43 (100=best). The US average is 58.
43 / 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.