Marion, NC is a small town located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a population of approximately 8,000 people and offers access to numerous outdoor activities and attractions. The health and well-being of its citizens, however, is an important consideration for residents. The county boasts two hospitals: McDowell Hospital, which is a full-service acute care hospital offering medical and surgical services; and Mission Health System Hospital which provides emergency care as well as specialized treatments for cancer, sleep disorders, and heart conditions. Other local medical facilities include Marion Medical Associates which offers primary care services from family physicians; Marion Family Practice which provides comprehensive health services; and Francine Killebrew Womens Center which provides specialty care for women's health issues. Additionally, there are a number of pharmacies in the area that provide prescription medication as well as other medical supplies. In the end, Marion residents can be assured that they have access to quality healthcare when needed.
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 65 physicians per 100,000 population in Marion. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Marion area is 111.0 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
111.0 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Marion area is 65 (100=best). The US average is 55.
65 / 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 Marion 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 Marion commutes 22.5 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 Marion area is 63 (100=best). The US average is 58.
63 / 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.