Helena, Montana is a vibrant city with much to offer its residents. The health of the citizens in Helena is of utmost importance, and there are a number of resources available to those living in the area. Some of these resources include local hospitals such as St. Peter's Health and Benefis Health Care, as well as a variety of medical facilities from primary care doctors and dentists to mental health professionals. Additionally, Helena is home to the Hemphill Center for Health Education which offers classes on physical fitness and nutrition as well as other health-related topics. With a strong focus on healthcare in Helena, residents can be confident that they are getting the best care possible.
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 241 physicians per 100,000 population in Helena. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Helena area is 98.5 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
98.5 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Helena area is 35 (100=best). The US average is 55.
35 / 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 Helena area is 58 (100=best). The US average is 87.
58 / 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 Helena commutes 12.3 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 Helena area is 83 (100=best). The US average is 58.
83 / 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.