Houston, MN is a small city located in southeastern Minnesota. With a population of just under 1,000 people, it is not surprising the city does not have a large selection of hospitals or medical facilities. However, there are still a few health-related resources available to its citizens. The closest hospital to Houston is Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin which is about 20 miles away. For those who need more specialized care there are two larger hospitals within an hour drive of the city; Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System in Rochester, MN. In addition to the hospitals and larger medical facilities located nearby, Houston also has several other health-related organizations such as several doctors’ offices and family physicians’ offices both within the city limits and close by in surrounding towns. Additionally, there are many pharmacies that provide basic medical services like filling prescriptions as well as home health care agencies that can provide assistance to those with limited mobility. Overall, despite its smaller size Houston has enough resources available to offer adequate healthcare for its citizens and visitors alike.
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 85 physicians per 100,000 population in Houston. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Houston area is 87.8 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
87.8 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Houston area is 45 (100=best). The US average is 55.
45 / 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 Houston area is 96 (100=best). The US average is 87.
96 / 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 Houston commutes 19.6 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 Houston area is 86 (100=best). The US average is 58.
86 / 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.