Spencer, Iowa is a small town with a population of around 11,000. Despite its size, the community offers excellent healthcare options for its residents. The city has two local hospitals, Spencer Hospital and Lakes Regional Healthcare, both offering world-class services to those in need. In addition to this, there are several medical facilities located in or near Spencer that provide quality care to the citizens of this small town. These include clinics such as Sanford Health and the Mercy Medical Center, along with pharmacies and optometry centers that offer specialized assistance when needed. With so many options available in the area, it's easy to see why Spencer is seen as one of the most health conscious communities in Iowa.
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 212 physicians per 100,000 population in Spencer. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Spencer area is 116.6 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
116.6 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Spencer area is 50 (100=best). The US average is 55.
50 / 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 Spencer area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 87.
92 / 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 Spencer commutes 15.4 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 Spencer area is 84 (100=best). The US average is 58.
84 / 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.