The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area has long been known for its high quality healthcare. The area is home to a number of hospitals and medical facilities that provide medical care to the local population. These include University of Washington Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, and more. In addition to providing top level primary care for residents, they also offer specialized services such as oncology, cardiology and orthopedics. Each hospital offers the latest in technology and treatment options for patients who need it most. Moreover, the area also has several smaller clinics that specialize in certain areas of healthcare, meaning access to health services is comprehensive and convenient.
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 244 physicians per 100,000 population in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area area is 81.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
81.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area area is 58 (100=best). The US average is 55.
58 / 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area area is 87 (100=best). The US average is 87.
87 / 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area commutes 30.1 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area area is 37 (100=best). The US average is 58.
37 / 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.