Halifax, VT is a small rural town in Southern Vermont that has been historically known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. Despite its peaceful reputation, health in Halifax is an issue of concern due to the town’s lack of medical infrastructure. Much of the local healthcare services are limited, with only a few hospitals and medical facilities in the area. The closest hospital is located over forty-five minutes away from Halifax. This lack of access to healthcare puts the communities at risk, as there are no urgent care centers or primary care physicians nearby. Additionally, there are no mental health counselors available in town, making it difficult for residents to access much-needed mental health resources. To make matters worse, poverty rates in Halifax are higher than state averages due to an unemployment rate nearly double the national average. For these reasons, it is important that steps are taken to ensure that all members of this community have access to quality healthcare and necessary resources. In order to improve the health in Halifax, more medical facilities need to be established and expanded so that all citizens can receive adequate care 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 270 physicians per 100,000 population in Halifax. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Halifax area is 98.1 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
98.1 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Halifax area is 64 (100=best). The US average is 55.
64 / 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 Halifax area is 65 (100=best). The US average is 87.
65 / 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 Halifax commutes 38.8 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 Halifax area is 92 (100=best). The US average is 58.
92 / 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.