Galax, VA is a small city in Southwest Virginia with a population of just under 7,000 people. The health of the citizens of Galax is important to the overall well-being of the community. The city has several hospitals and medical facilities nearby to provide care for its residents. Galax Valley Medical Center is a local hospital that offers access to emergency care, pediatric care, and specialty services. Twin County Regional Healthcare in nearby Hillsville provides advanced treatments such as cancer care and physical therapy services. Twin County also offers an outpatient network including primary care physicians and specialists for more specialized treatments. In addition to these health centers, there are many family practice offices scattered throughout Galax and other localities in the area. Collectively, these doctors provide comprehensive healthcare for individuals and families in need of medical attention. With so many options available within the area, Galax citizens have access to quality healthcare that meets their specific needs.
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 665 physicians per 100,000 population in Galax. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Galax area is 104.1 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
104.1 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Galax area is 100 (100=best). The US average is 55.
100 / 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 Galax area is 97 (100=best). The US average is 87.
97 / 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 Galax commutes 18.6 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 Galax area is 79 (100=best). The US average is 58.
79 / 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.